WEEK ENDING MARCH 25th 35p
QS Produce the most ULTRA-MEGA- AMAZING Games in the entire known Universe!”
Jm
_ X TIMEGATE
^JDuick silve’s 1 st level two 'game. The best space/time c
■PF:
adventure of 82.
"^7 JF
r /f fjjf Tl EQATE^NX.
A-fcgh spieed grapfxcs combne^ with electrifying space Xs.
adventure makes TIMEGATE the game of all games FcmI the ruling aliens by travelling back through time # and blasting out their home
planet. Fight 3D space battles ^ on your journey, seeking the time gates that lead to year ^21 zero and the salvation of the human race.
Features: AD, High sp>eed l graphics. versatile scanning, stati js and battle comp* iter's.
H lend fi take off from many \ Janets, time travel. 5 sk ill ■ levels, score & rating plus free training program.
L
MORE NEW RELEASES^
THE CHESS PLAYER Jk Who is he? Dare YOU challenge him?
Fksk high stakes and pit you r wits \f f \ against die c;*iesB game with personality.
wpeerh and devastating cheea akiiis fy THE CHESS PLAYER costs less. V while offering you more skill booatng anpyment Features 6 skill levels, analysis, copies display and all moves to printer or screen, colour orB&W display, save game at any point.
F*ersonality & speech
SPEAKEASY
Add speech or music to you programs'
In response to massive demand, we have f'Sleannd SPEAKEASY for your own use and enjoyment.
Smply record you r sound onto a cassette and play it into your Spectrum via load The signal may then he edited and refjlayed on command from your Basic or M/c program NO E X TRA HAROWARF REQUIRE D* '
SPfCTDUM
MMN M fMmMMc
QUICK flit V
//
’ S* *
■
A. r
I l r,
. As fa
/ //«
Edward de Boro’s Classic L-GAME
Simjjle rules and complex strategies make the L -GAME an essential for
Also ndudee outstandng and compulsive \ f versions (if Masterr mr lrl £i Pontoon V ^ Asfeaurwlon T V m Edward de Bono’s\ / Thinking Course.
f L-GAME REACHES THE BITS OTHER \
/ GAMES tXDN T TOUCH* . V
A
A
INTRUDERS ^-^XFeaujres 4 alien types, random saucer points. 2nd
X. _ _ _ attack wave mutant.
v exploding aliens, bonus base '^*50.000 points, left nght & fire, sound effects and colour METEOR STORM \3 met«of typ>es. 2 saucers. vJ/Sfull screen wrap-around.
”fcor x js ship every 1 0.000 \ points, amazing explosions. ^ left-ncjht-thrust-f ire & hypjerspjace. sound effects and spjeech.
WHAT THE Y SAY ABOUT OUR ZXB1 GAMES:
QS SCRAMBLE —
" amazing, fantastic* ’’ |P.C.W I OS INVADERS —
" just like the real thing!..." |C & V.G.)
OS ASTEROIDS—
“...very good.** •’...addictive gBrne..." |CSV.G.| OS OEFEIVIOER —
“ Better than any other arcade game I’ve seen..." (Sync)
** nicest games I’ve played on the ZX01 All the tapjes were mnpjressively packaged. ."
(Which Micro & SR)
ZX - B-l GAMES
Scramble m/c 16k £3.95 CD
Invader© m/c 1 6k £3.95 CD Asteroids m/c 1 6k £3 95 CD Defenders m/c 1 6k £3.95 CD
SPECTRUM GAMES
Speakeasy m/c 40k £4.95
Time gate m/c 4Bk £6.95 *
The Chess Player m/c 40k £6.95 Space Intruders m/c 16k £4 95 * Meteor Storm m/c 16k £4.95 * Base IBk £3.95
CZ)
□
□ □ □ □
•THESE Q AMES INCLUDE SPECIAL SEASONAL DISCOUNTS, ORDER NOW ANOOET FREE KEYBOARD OVERLAY!
Pease sand ms the games as ticked.
Total chequo/P.O. enclosed . .
Name .
Address . .
- to: QUICKBILVA, DEPT BPC, 8S NORTH AM ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, BOB OPB
(0703) 20169
MENU
CHARACTER SET
Editorial
Editor
Cyndy Miles
Production editor
Keith Parish
Sub-editor
Peter Worlock
News editor
Margaret Coffey
News writers
David Guest Wcndic Pearson
Software editor
Shirley Fawcett
Systems editor
Max Phillips
Hardware editor
Richard King
Peripherals editor
Ian Scales
Feature and Micropaedia editor
Geof Wheelwright
Listings editor
Sandra Grandison
Editor’s assistant
Harriet \moLi
Art director
Jim Dansie
Art editor
Jimmy Egerton
Art assistant
Dolores Fairman
Publishing manager
Fiona Collier
Advertising
Advertisement manager
Mark Eiscn
Assistant advertisement manager
Nic Jones
Senior sales executive
Sue Hunter
Sales executives
Robert Stallibrass Matthew Parrott Bettina Williams Simon Treasure lan Whorlcy Sarah Barron Production manager Brian Humphrey Microshop production Eva Wroblewska Advertisement assistant Jenny Dunne Subscription enquiries Simon Maggs Subscription address 53 Frith Street London W1 A 2HG 01-439 4242 Editorial address 62 Oxford Street London W1 A 2HG 01-6366890 Advertising address 62 Oxford Street London W1 A 2HG 01-323 3211
Published by
VNU Business Publications Evelyn House 62 Oxford Street London W1 A 2NG © VNU 1983. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders. Typeset by Quickset. 184- 186 Old Street. London EC1 . Printed by Chase Web Offset. St Austell. Cornwall. Distributed by Seymour Press, 334 Brixton Road, London SW9, 01-733 4444.
PCN SPECIALS
PCN’s Paperchase _ 1!J
Second leg in the race for a BBC . . . four Model Bs up for grabs.
Coleco Exclusive _ 27
Full preview of the little machine with lots of promise. _
Psion Vs CP _ 31
Tales of woe and bad luck as a brace of Spectrum programs brings the backgammon blues. _
Nursery End 32
Find out what kids are getting their hands on these days.
PCN PRO TESTS
Software
Does Spectrum's new |
35 |
spreadsheet rate against the 'Calcs? |
|
Colourful plot to boost IBM |
38 |
graphics. |
|
BBC word processing on the |
40 |
cheap. |
|
Hardware |
|
Full hands on the heavy metal |
42 |
Toshiba T100. |
|
Full fingers on the latest pocket |
48 |
Casio. |
|
Peripherals |
|
Stacking up the memory with |
51 |
ZXSl's amazing tower of power. |
|
We hear the Vic's got a lot o'gottle |
54 |
Gameplay |
|
Join Diane Keaton and a cast of |
59 |
thousands on the Apple. |
|
Travel through time and space |
60 |
on the ZX81. |
|
Help Horace, the home-fun |
61 |
hero, through new scrapes on the |
|
Spectrum. |
\
REGULARS
Monitor
New Dragon hot from the valleys, page 2; Acorn keeps costs down for BBC users but spells out the price of its Econet, page 3; why add-ons for the Jupiter Ace are late, page 4; Join the search for the Sinclair Microdrive, page 5 . . . plus reports and pictures on these seven pages of all the latest news.
Random Access _ 17
You send ’em . . . well print 'em — and pay £10 for the letter of the week.
Readout _ 18
To buy or not to bother . . . PCN answers the question in reviews of the latest books.
Routine Inquiries _ 22
Max (fix-it) Phillips leaves no micro unturned in his regular help spot. Just dump your baffles on him.
Microwaves _ 25
£5 tip? That's what we pay for every helpful hint.
Clubnet _ 56
Places to go; people to meet. Check it out in our week-by-week guide to clubs and user groups.
Datelines _ 56
Days to remember in our list of coming events, both home and abroad.
PCN ProgramCards 63
Cut out and keep new programs for your Spectrum and BBC. Unique listings that you build into a handy software library.
Databasics _ 73
All you need to know about software in this easy-to-follow buyer's guide.
PCN Billboard _ 83
Free reader's advertisements — swop, sell or buy.
PCN MAR 18. 1983
1
PCN MONITOR
Dragon Data hatches a successor to 32
By David Guest
A new Dragon is about to emerge from the Welsh val¬ leys, and if it doesn’t breathe fire it should at least be col¬ ourful.
Dragon Data is intent on keeping you in the dark for the time being but managing director Fred Clark isn't deny¬ ing that the new system will be a 16-bit machine running MS-DOS. It is also likely to have twin disk drives, and a colour monitor will be avail¬ able.
‘We don’t have a release date at the moment,' said Mr Clark. ‘We will talk about the system when we have it up and running.’
The heart of the new
Dragon 32: the forerunner to a bigger, better version?
machine is likely to be an 8086 Dragon Data is particularly processor, and the colour evasive. Asked if £1,200 screen is expected to be a 14in sounded reasonable Mr Clark model which will be supplied by said: ‘For £1,200 it won't have Microvitec. a colour screen and two disk
On the question of price drives.'
Vic packages with your LPs
You should soon be able to buy educational software for your Vic-20 through your local record shop. Commodore- approved software house Ivan Berg has arranged to make its educational software available off the shelf.
The first products to be sold through these outlets are Ivan Berg's GCE/CSE revision programs together with its BBC Mastermind, Quizmas¬ ter. Vic Road User and Robert Carrier Menu Planner packages. They cost £9.90.
‘Our view is that this is where the future of software will be,’ says the company’s managing director Ivan Berg.
it will go the same way as records and tapes.'
For details of your nearest stockist, Ivan Berg Software is on 01-328 3341.
Startech boldly goes for Commodore’s US software
Numbers on the IBM
The new super-spreadsheet program for the IBM PC has made it across the Atlantic.
Called 1-2-3 it is produced by Lotus Software and is avail¬ able from Personal Computers in London for £400.
In addition to handling ‘what if type questions the program can translate spread¬ sheet information into a graphical representation and generate reports. By using a second monitor it is possible to display the spreadsheet and graphs simultaneously.
‘It is what Visicalc should have been,’ says Stuart Lakey, director of Personal Compu¬ ters. ‘A particularly impressive feature is the help screens.
‘If you run into difficulty you just hit the “help” button and up comes a help screen direct¬ ly related to the routine you are working on.'
Although designed to run on the IBM PC and Compaq portable lookalike. it is thought that Lotus is working on versions to run on other MS-DOS machines.
So far it can only be bought through Personal Computers which has the product in stock. Tel: 01-377 1200.
You can now get elusive Com¬ modore software for the Vic- 20 and 64 in the UK.
Startech, a Liverpool-based software house and one of the UK's biggest importers of US software, has set up a separate division specialising in prog¬ rams for the Vic-20 and Com¬ modore 64.
A large shipment of Com¬ modore 64 games cassettes is expected from the US this week, and will retail for around £15 a game.
Vic-20 cartridge games are
already dribbling in from the US — 16 are available, for between £23.95 and £27.
Business software for this model will arrive this week. ViCalc, a small spreadsheet program, is £10.95 while the ViCat database sells for £17.95.
Games for the Commodore 64 are Adventure Packs 1 and 2, which are multilevel “dungeon and dragon” type games.
All are available direct from Startech which can be reached on 051-727 7267.
Tiny Word at low cost for the Newbrain
IBM’s new plans: all Peanut and Popcorn?
Newbrain users now have another word processing pack¬ age for their machine.
Launched by Kuma, Tiny Word will be available from Newbrain stockists including Lasky's Curry’s and more than 100 smaller high street outlets this week, at £24.50.
The package has screen edit¬ ing and 16 editor commands.
The newcomer joins pack¬ ages from Brainwave Software at £25 and Elstree Computer Centre at £40.25 for the New¬ brain.
You can expect two new per¬ sonal computers from IBM be¬ fore the end of the year.
The multinational may have been slow to get into the per¬ sonal computer business but it is making up for lost time. The XT joined the PC last week, and IBM is expected to launch machines on either side of this pair to offer you a range of hardware.
For anybody who regards almost £3,000 as a pretty pen¬ ny for a PC, the smaller of the
new systems should be a pleasant surprise. It is ex¬ pected to sell in the US for less than $1,000 — and one US source puts the price as low as $600.
Members of the dedicted band known as 'IBM watchers’ are predicting that this micro- PC, code-named Peanut, will be strictly for home uses. It will be, they say, a more eco¬ nomically packaged version of the original PC with a small keyboard and less memory.
and should appear in October.
At the other end of the scale the larger machine will be a multi-user, multi-tasking sys¬ tem. It may be based on a higher performance processor than the 8088. Known as PC-2, or Popcorn, it is expected later than its tiny cousin.
Nor do IBM's plans end with the PC line. The good old 3278 terminal could become a micro in its own right with the provision of add-ons.
IBM had no comments.
2
PCN MAR25.1983
MONITOR
BBC s big one — System Mve dual drive, major rue server tor tconei
Count to ten to use Econet
ACT’s portable: Apricot conies to fruition
By Geof Wheelwright
Unless you have ten machines or more, you can forget about running Acorn's Econet local area networking system on your BBC micros.
It will cost you more to run five BBCs on the Econet sys¬ tem sharing one dual disk drive than if you equipped each machine with its own disk drive.
Acorn spokesman Lawrence Hardwick claims that the sys¬ tem was never supposed to be cost effective for small con¬ figurations.
i wholly expect that anyone using Econet will realistically have ten stations or more/ said Mr Hardwick.
The limited effectiveness of Econet is largely due to its design. As it currently stands.
you must tie up at least two machines in the network — at a cost of about £9(X) — simply to run the file server and prin¬ ter server programs.
The Econet system will cost about £50 per machine to hook up. Then you must buy the terminators, clock and cable to link the system together and a file server program to run the system. By the time all that is purchased for four machines, you would have spent £750.
Acorn says it hopes to adapt the printer servers to run on the same machine that handles the file server, so that only one machine need be tied up.
The System Five major file server system can also be used with Econet, but it costs more than twice the price of the dual disk drive system.
After the Apple from the US and the Peach from Japan, the UK Apricot is on its way.
The Apricot, from ACT, is built around an 8086 chip with an 8089 input/output processor and an optional 8087 maths processor. It will have two V/2in floppy disk drives and a 9in screen.
The system will run MS/ DOS version 2.0, as on IBM's XT.
ACT, with its background in bureau services and software production, will supply some \ applications and communica¬ tions software. Like any self- respecting Apricot, it will be portable.
Fresh Apricots should be on the shelves of your local store from June. What they'll cost has not yet been determined, but an ACT spokesman prom¬ ised that it would be less than the £2,750 of the Sirius, which ACT also markets.
Anything disk can do Ikon do too
Help is on the way for BBC users whose budgets won't stretch to disk drives but feel their style is cramped (and temper frayed) by tedious and unreliable cassette storage.
Apparently non-tedious and reliable storage is on the way in the form of the Hobbit — a 60K per side tape system from Ikon Computer Products.
This is ACT’s first venture in micro design and produc¬ tion. It brought in hardware expertise from electronic en¬ gineers QED to round off the package.
It will aim to be producing 2,000 systems a month by the end of the year at a new factory in Scotland.
ACT has developed the Apricot independently of Vic¬ tor Technologies, the US manufacturer of the Sirius. It claims that Apricot will not compete with Sirius while at the same time Victor may build the Apricot under licence in the US.
ACT managing director Roger Foster is reported to have described the develop¬ ment as a ‘bold step'.
It is also a logical step for ACT. From its origins as a computer bureau it has de¬ veloped into a supplier of most computer products.
The Hobbit reads and writes at 750 bytes per second and its winding mechanisms are com¬ pletely controlled by the com¬ puter.
The device is claimed to require no special interface and is compatible with all ver¬ sions of the BBC operating system.
The system supports BBC commands and brings a few of its own on an EPROM which is plugged into one of the spare sockets on the BBC.
• Personal Computer News will soon be featuring a Pro Test of the Hobbit.
Make your Torch into a BBC for £25
For the princely sum of £25 you can plug a ROM chip into your Torch to use programs and files designed for an Acorn BBC micro.
The ROM should enable you to load and store BBC programs on the Torch, and it will put BBC files at your disposal. In effect it runs the disk filing systems of both machines in parallel.
As a result. Torch says, its users will be given a wider choice. And features of the BBC machine, particularly its
file handling, will be per¬ formed more efficiently.
‘We are getting Acorn's disk filing system on a royalty basis and putting hooks into it,' said Torch's Ray Anderson. So both 40- and 80-track disks can be handled, although the restrictions of the BBC filing system apply — 31 files per disk or 31 files per surface.
But running under CP/M offsets some of the limitations where efficiency is concerned. Torch claims.
The Torch system is basical¬ ly an elaborately packaged BBC micro, so correspond¬ ences between the two are hardly surprising. But Torch, with CPN, the CP/M look- alike, has moved in a different direction.
PCN THREEBIES OFFER
Welcome to week two of the PCN Threebies Offer. Already our pub¬ lisher is worrying.
So many of you have saved your PCN Threebies Offer coupon from issue one, that it looks as if he is going to have to give away thousands of crisp, green, one pound notes.
Keep up the good work. You now have two coupons, so you are two thirds of the way there.
Just to remind you. all you have to do is collect the PCN Threebies Offer coupons from issues one. two and three of Personal Computer News , and we will send you £1.00 absolutely free. Remember though, absolutely no photocopies and only one claim per household.
Make sure you get next week's issue of PCM to get coupon number
three, and to find out how to claim
No replies can be accepted from anyone who has any connection with the publishing, printing or distribu¬ tion of this magazine.
■Three Jacks
12.50
including
P4P
CLARES ids Road. Winslord. Cheshire CW7 4AX Tel: 06065 51374
fcT199 4A f TE LEADS
*y£1 1.50 for Texas purs are only
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PCN MAR25.1983
85
PCN MONITOR
VIEW FROM JAPAN
Japanese prepare for the invasion
You can expect a lot more Japanese machines in the shops this year.
It’s no secret that the Japanese have been busy selling personal computers at home for some time. Last year alone sales doubled to 650,000.
But it may not be quite so well known that there are at least 70 firms already competing for the spoils of Japan's crowded domestic market.
It is largely because of this heated domestic competition that some 20 Japanese manufacturers are even now preparing to take their machines abroad.
That should be good for the average user. Japan's forays into the UK to date have not revealed that country's best machines.
In true Oriental fashion most companies have made only cautious moves in your direction. They tested the market first by selling their displays, disk drives and printers under Western names through agreements with Western companies.
Even those companies that have released machines in the UK have generally sent their older, poorer-performance machines out first.
Now the companies are planning to send the machines that have been selling big in Japan to this country. So you can expect to see the PC 8800 Series that Nippon Electric (NEC) introduced last year, as well as the PC 9800 Series that it introduced this year. Fujitsu’s new Micro 1 6 and the Sanyo M BC 200 Series also ought to be making their way to your shores soon.
Brother will be going to the Hanover Fair in April to launch a range of low cost printers that should be available in the UK in August or September.
At the bottom end of the range will be the EP-22, a dot-matrix printer that can also be used as a portable typewriter. It features a 16-character, one-line display and comes with 2K memory and either a serial or Centronics interface. It will be priced at around £175.
For around the same price. Brother will be offering the HR5, a bi-directional printer with a 9x9 dot matrix printhead. In addition the company will be bringing out a daisywheel printer, the HR 15, that will be competitively priced at under £500.
That could result in a round of major price cuts, not to mention machines that offer better performance at lower prices. It could also make a trip to your local computer shop a dizzying experience for the novice buyer.
The impending invasion could also be a boon for software suppliers. The Japanese are weak at producing software and even now many companies are looking to UK and European specialists for help.
Epson, for one, is openly seeking European software houses, and hiring Europeans, to help write software and support its machines.
Double vision on the oriental screen
;se are different. There has to be . o account for their startling national
Jupiter’s new machine leaves Ace users cold
Jupiter Cantab is working on a new machine — which may explain why users are still waiting for add-ons for the Jupiter Ace.
Jupiter is believed to have a prototype working based on the Z80 chip with high resolution colour graphics, 48K of mem¬ ory, Prestel compatibility with an 80-column mode and a built-in modem.
But news of a new machine does not excite users of the Ace who have been waiting since October for their expansion boards.
it’s a sore point,' said John Noyce who runs the Jupiter Ace Users Group.
‘Jupiter has been promising all sorts of things. In particular we would like to see the printer board,' he said.
Jupiter maintains that the add-ons will be out soon.
‘The printer board will be available in a month or two,’ said Jupiter Cantab founder Steven Vickers. The 16K and 48K RAM packs should be out in the next two weeks.'
But Mr Vickers was cagey about details of the new machine. ‘There are no new models that we are announcing that we are working on,' he said. 'But that's not to say that we are not working on a new model.’
if you look at the market it is not unreasonable to think that there is a gap in the market for a Spectrum-like successor to the Ace,' he added.
It is unlikely that the new machine will be released for at least six months.
Throw away your manual’ with Torch Operating Guide
MPI Software wants to come between you and your beloved Torch operating system.
Last week PCN got an exclu¬ sive unveiling of the Operating- Guide, a package designed to let you access operating system commands without having to memorise them or keep your manual constantly at hand.
In simple English (which is what this program purports to give you) the program trans¬ lates CP/N (the Torch's opera¬ ting system) commands and allows you to access them easily.
The Operating Guide was originally written as a guide to help people running programs in CP/M, and has now been rejigged to help on the Torch.
The program was written by Decision Systems. The com¬ pany claims it will make the user manual obsolete for CP/M and CP/N users.
Every time you need to use CP/N utility, the menu-driven program takes you through the stages of the operation and lists all the available file manage¬ ment options.
The system also has a feature that tells you when you need to back-up the main Operating Guide program so it doesn’t go down.
There is no manual for the Operating Guide as all the instructions are menu-driven and it will sell for about £45. MPI can be reached at 01-591 6511.
itry at the moment might suggest it's ched the X-1PC colour TV, which levision signals to let you write and
rv.
idling Coronation Street through a demic question at the moment; the - Is that Sharp can barely keep pace . (),(XX) a month.
arance in the UK towards the end of
From George Faas
TORCH
Easy access to the Torch’s operating system —thanks to MPI Software
PCN MAR25. 1983
PCN MONITOR
Spectrum Microdrives: latef later, latest
By Ian Scales
TTie Sinclair Microdrive, first announced in April 1982 as an imminent storage peripheral for the ZX Spectrum, is still not in sight. That, as everyone with a calendar knows, makes it nearly a year late.
Sinclair is still determined to remain mysterious about the drive. The company claims that premature release of technical details will jeopardise the pro¬ duct’s advantage over its rivals. So. management refuses to
make any promises about a release date.
This is despite the fact that the Microdrive design has been frozen and the company claims it is simply waiting for ship¬ ments of custom chips so pro¬ duction can get under way.
The latest information from Sinclair is that design improve¬ ments are said to have margi¬ nally bettered the access time of 3.5 seconds previously claimed .
The Microdrive interface will cost £30 while each drive will
now cost £40. Up to eight drives can be chained together — each with a capacity of slightly more than 100K.
Those of you who bought the Spectrum by mail order when it was first announced will be offered the drives first.
Sinclair says this will serve as part-compensation to those who had to wait long periods for Spectrum deliveries. Of course it also enables the company to determine the eventual take-up rate.
Home-grown is no cheaper
It isn’t just American micros that cost more in the UK. Our own products often sport higher price tags in the UK.
Apparently it’s not the trip across the Atlantic that hikes up the price. Timex, the US com¬ pany that acquired the US rights to the ZX81 and Spec¬ trum. is presently allowing its version of the ZX81 to be discounted by retailers to as little as S53 (£36).
A lower price for the US version of the Spectrum is also considered likely because of the pricing of competing ‘low end’ brands from Commodore and Texas Instruments.
MEM/DOS:
Le Crunch for Apple?
Apple users with a taste for the exotic can now sample a French operating system.
Guernsey software house Dynatech Microsoftware has introduced MEM/DOS to the UK . This £299 package sells at a rate of 400 copies a month across the Channel.
MEM/DOS for the Apple
possible with the normal
PCN Charts
You’re right . . . gremlins got into the system last week and rendered PCN Charts at best intriguing, more likely incomprehensible. But here they are again — with full explanation.
PCN ('harts follow the rise and fall of the UK’s hest-selling micros. This fortnightly top-of-the-shops list tells you what’s selling best over the counter; it does not take account of mail order. The figures show the number of machines sold in a two-week period ending two weeks before publication date (in this case March 18), so today’s tells the story in high streets between February 18 and March 4.
The machine prices quoted are for the no-frills models and include N AT. Information for the PCN ( harts has been culled from retailers throughout the country and compiled by MKIB, London. They will be updated every alternate week ... so watch for the ups and downs in next week’s PCN!
Dynatech claims that this is because the French version has a number of advantages over Apple DOS. MEM/DOS comes in the form of a card that slots into the back of your system. Since it uses screens or masks to take over input and output functions, Dynatech claims it enables you to prog¬ ram 20 times faster than is
system.
It makes a split screen possi¬ ble; it frees memory by residing on a card; and it regards disk space as one continuous area.
MEM/DOS offers the choice of 40 or 80 columns on the screen.
For multi-user operations a communications interface card will be needed, costing £299.
Summer scramble over 2.0
Expect a rash of upgrades this summer as micro makers start to include version 2.0 of the MS-DOS operating system in their machines.
The new version will give you support for Fixed disk opera¬ tions. extended screen and keyboard controls, batch-type operations, and other features designed to make your life easier.
Microsoft, the US producer of MS-DOS, has already sup¬ plied version 2.0 to its existing customers — a list which in¬ cludes DEC, Wang. Hitachi. NEC, Victor and others. The new version made its debut last week in the launch of IBM's PC XT.
In detail, the additional fea¬
tures of version 2.0 are: general support for fixed disks includ¬ ing back-up and restore com¬ mands; it can be started from diskette or fixed disk; tree structured directories, a file recovery utility and a batch command language are in¬ cluded; multiple disk input/ output buffers; room for the addition of user-installed de¬ vice drivers; optional verify after write; piping, where the output from one program be¬ comes the input to another; redirected I/O; and a back¬ ground file print utility.
A Microsoft spokesman said: ‘You can't buy it direct, it will come on the machine you buy and it is up to the manufacturer to provide support.'
Top Twenty up to £1,000
1 |
BBC Model B |
£399 |
(AC) |
2 |
Sinclair ZX81 |
£50 |
(SI) |
3 |
Newbrain AD |
£299 |
(OR) |
4 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
£170 |
(CO) |
5 |
Acorn Atom |
£174 |
(AC) |
6 |
Apple II |
£776 |
(AP) |
7 |
Sinclair Spectrum 16K |
£125 |
(SI) |
8 |
Atari 800 |
£400 |
(AT) |
9 |
Atari 400 |
£160 |
(AT) |
10 |
Commodore 64 |
£345 |
(CO) |
11 |
Dragon 32 |
£200 |
(DR) |
12 |
Jupiter Ace |
£90 |
(JU) |
13 |
Texas TI99 |
£150 |
(TE) |
14 |
Colour Genie |
£224 |
(LO) |
15 |
Oric 1 |
£100 |
(OR) |
16 |
Sharp MZ80A |
£549 |
(SH) |
17 |
Commodore 500 |
£799 |
(CO) |
18 |
Tandy TRS (C/C) |
£240 |
(TA) |
19 |
Epson HX20 |
£472 |
(EP) |
20 |
Commodore 4016 |
£632 |
(CO) |
Top Ten over £1,000 |
|||
1 |
Sirius 1 |
£2.754 |
(ACT) |
2 |
Olivetti M20 |
£2,754 |
(OL) |
3 |
Apple III |
£2,780 |
(AP) |
4 |
Osborne 1 |
£1,581 |
(OS) |
5 |
HP86A |
£1,541 |
(HP) |
6 |
Commodore 710 |
£1,475 |
(CO) |
7 |
Xerox 820 |
£2,415 |
(RX) |
8 |
Superbrain II |
£2,185 |
(IC) |
9 |
Micro-Mimi 802 |
£1.720 |
(BM) |
10 |
Sanyo MBC 1000 |
£1,195 |
(SA) |
AC — Acorn Computers ACT ACT Computers AP Apple Computers AT - Atari International BM British Micro. CO Commodore DR Dragon Data EP — Epson 6R —Grundy Business HP -Hewlett-Packard 1C — Icarus Computers. JU - Jupiter Cantab L0 — Lowe Electronics OL -Olivetti OR Orie OS — Osborne Computers Corporation. RX — Rank Xerox. SA Sanyo Marubeni SH — Sharp SI — Sinclair. TA Tandy . TE — Texas Instruments
PCN MAR25. 1983
5
IBM’s £5,000 personal micro
Out of sight — IBM’s new XT
As a personal computer the IBM PC is rapidly disappear¬ ing over the horizon.
The new. improved XT ver¬ sion launched last week ( PCN , March 18) is virtually a mem¬ ber of the business system class — a machine that sets you back almost £5,000 isn't something that you'll buy out of the petty cash.
But there is more to the XT than meets the eye. The XT has brought DOS version 2.0 along with it. The operating system doesn't have the menu
facility that everybody had been expecting but there are tree-structured directories, a batch command language, pip¬ ing and other attractions.
The Basic 80 interpreter is still the same old 8-bit oriented relic but with support for about 21Mb on the system it seems churlish to dwell on the Basic.
From the point of view of storage, the XT is in a differ¬ ent class from the original PC. User memory starts at 128K,up from 64K on the PC, and it can
be expanded to 640K.
On-line storage can include two 5V4in fixed disks giving 10 Mb each, plus a new 360K floppy.
IBM is offering expansion units, one for PC owners to boost their storage and one for XT owners to double it. The PC expansion unit has the 10 Mb drive, a disk drive adap¬ tor, and a ROM replacement kit to support fixed disks. It costs £2,172.
The XT expansion kit costs £1 ,978 and contains a 10MB disk drive and eight expansion slots for optional plug adaptors.
The disk drives have a 90 millisecond average access time and can shunt data out at five megabits a second.
The XT and expansion units are expected to be in the shops in early June. The minimum system, with 128K for you to play with and a 10MB disk, will cost £4,858 plus VAT. A larger system, with 256K user memory and a second fixed disk, will cost £7,126.
Prolog for the small machine
Language buffs with a CP/M machine can now experiment with fifth generation language Prolog.
Oxford software house Ex¬ pert Systems has brought out a full implementation of the lan¬ guage that will run on any CP/M machine with 64K. It costs
A compiler version to run on 68000 machines will be avail¬ able later in the year.
Prolog differs from tradition¬ al languages in the way pro¬ grams are written.
‘Prolog is a language based on logic*, explained Alex Goodhall, managing director of Expert Systems. ‘Rather than listing the steps a compu¬ ter has to go through to solve a problem a Prolog program uses a series of logical statements to describe the problem. The lan¬ guage then enables the compu¬ ter to sort out how to solve it,’ he said.
PC price bonus from IBM
There is a bonus in the launch of the IBM Personal Computer XT. From now' on the original PC will cost you less.
IBM cut the price of its system units and disk drives by a modest six percent.
The reduction on some peripherals, however, was much greater. A system unit with a 160K diskette drive comes down from £1,394 to £1 ,31 1 ; with the 320K drive the reduction is from £1,537 to £1,461.
The 160K drive's price falls from £264 to £180, and the larger drive from £407 to £330.
The price reduction in the US was closer to 15 per cent.
Portable Commodore
Commodore is preparing for a full-scale attack on the UK portables market.
The new SX-100 range con¬ sists of three portables, one with black and white display and two with colour. Details are still a bit sketchy, but it looks as if they could be aimed directly at the popular Osborne 1 .
Weighing in at 221b apiece, the machines offer 64K. built in 5in monitor and floppy disk drives holding 170-340K. de¬
pending on the model.
The colour version looks like better value for money than others on the market. TTie UK prices have not been set, but in the US they will range from $995 for a black and white display with single disk drive, to $ 1 ,495 for a colour display with double disk drives.
The bad news is that the launch date in the UK is still uncertain, but we could be in for a sneak preview in May.
TEXT MATCH — IS Pipeline enables you to insert graphs into reports, put addresses into form letters and make multiple copies. K Is compatible with the Apple or any Centronics interface and is expandable from 8 to 128K from £139. From Pete and Pam Computers, 01-769 1022.
6
PCN MAR 25. 1983
MICROMESSAGE
NOT CHR$ LEN TAN ACS £ INT TAN £ NOT PEEK £ SGN CHR$ NOT
Free copy o* SHIVA-INFERNO
for the first human translator —
Send your answers to
f
VI
l
V
"" H 1 1
VY,. X N J
s
S'"
""V V!
THE CONFLICT GROUP presents the synthesis of thought and power in a package of plasma hotter than the sun
IV
!v"
f
% V
.■r *..»■
V
J
and faster than light. %*** Using quantum leaps we
have bridged time and space with kilometres of tape and megatonnes of paper: — Stoke Newington’s
FINEST HOUR!!!!!!!
SHIVA-INFERNO ZX-81 SPECTRUM
Anarchy is rampant in Europe as the forces of chaos collide in titanic proportions. For the post-cruise gen¬ eration on the pre-cruise computer
£5.95
TIME LORDS BBC-B
Buy this game and we ll promise you anything. Combat the enemies of your race. Five beings control time itself. History is not an eternal truth.
£7.95
MURDERBALL
Revitalise your cave man instincts, mutilate your opponents, buy this game. Space age football on roller¬ skates — the Super Bowl has nothing on this.
Board Game £14.95 Computer Moderator £6.95
TOP GAMES
JUDGE DREDD — The Perps — Mega City 1 — 2000 AD £7.50
APOCALYPSE — Nukes — Power — Devastation — War £6.95
QUIRKS - Darwin — Evolution— Natural selection
£4.95
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS - Swords — Wizards Monsters— Basic role-playing game £8.95
TRAVELLER — Laser — Space — Aliens — Role- playing game £5.95
SQUAD LEADER — Infantry — Tank — WW1 1 — East Front £11.95
TOP PROGRAMMES
M AZOG (Bug Byte) - Maniac and mobile— ZX81
£9.00
3D DEFENDER (J. K. Greye) — Young talent at war — ZX81 £4.50
THETIMEMACHINE(Digital Fantasia) -Mist — Time — Adventure — BBC B £8.00
BATTLE OF BRITAIN (Micro Simulations) - Speaks for itself— Spectrum £5.50
TIME GATE (Quick Silver) — Sounds good Spectrum £6.25
DEADWOOD (A & F Software) — Monopoly!! — Dragon £6.50
ANDROIDS (Firefly Software) — Maze game with lasers— Spectrum £5.00
MINIATURE WARGAMES is the newest games magazine on the market. Each issue contains a free game. No. 1 is Hex-A-Noughts, a sci-fi game. The magazine is supported by some of the leading personalities in war-gaming and
has serious articles on all aspects of the hobby.
75p per issue. Half-year subscription £6.00. Year subscription £12.00 (Including p&p).
RED SHIFT TRADING COMPANY
Software, boardgames. role-playing games, wargames and miniatures - the work of the best British and American games designers Current projects Campaign and battle computer simulations and strategy software If you are working in the field of thinking games CONTACT US We will pay royalties on completed games or will commission you to program to our designer s specifications Phone or write for our complete games list RED SHIFT - opposite the Stoke Newington railway station Cheques to Red Shift Ltd . Dept A, 12C Manor Road. London N16 5SA
PCN MAR25, 1983
7
GREAT NEW BUY ‘N TRY SOFTWARE DEAL
There’s a great new deal for your software shopping. We call it buy ii try. And it’s as simple as that!
Buy any item from our software range .... and use it as long as you wish. Whenever you want a new program .... well buy it back for a full 80% of the price you paid against your next purchase of equivalent or greater catalogue value .... any time within 6 months of purchase.
So you can always keep up to date with the latest software and games releases, without burning a hole in your pocket.
How it works
Example: Buy a game for £ 10 .... enjoy it to the full, and return it when you’re ready to order something else. We’ll buy it back for £8, so if you want another £ 10 game, simply send us the difference (£2). There’s just one simple rule ... we can only agree to buy back software that’s in working order.
* You get the enjoyment of £20 worth of software for just £12. * It gets even better the more often you change!
Look at our super selection and complete the order form to take advantage of the hottest software deal ever, or telephone your order to Software Centre on 01-487-5974, quoting your Access/Barclaycard number (24-hour service)
Mem Req'd |
Supplier |
Code No |
Price |
|
Atom Chess |
12K |
Bug Byte |
02A001 |
£9.00 |
Acorn Atom 747 |
FP |
Bug Byte |
02A002 |
£8 00 |
Atom Breakout |
4K |
Buy Byte |
02A003 |
£16.00 |
Fruit Machine |
8K |
Bug Byte |
02A004 |
£400 |
Pinball |
16K |
Bug Byte |
02A004 |
£4 50 |
Atom Invaders |
12K |
Bug Byte |
02A005 |
£800 |
Galaxian |
12K |
Bug Byte |
02A006 |
£800 |
Atom Man |
12K |
Bug Byte |
02A007 |
£800 |
Labyrinth |
12K |
Bug Byte |
02A008 |
£7 00 |
B.B.C. MICRO
Space Pirates |
16K |
Bug Byte |
02B001 |
£8 00 |
Space Warp |
32K |
Buy Byte |
02B002 |
£9 00 |
Golf |
32K |
Bug Byte |
02B003 |
£5 50 |
Dragon Quest 1 |
16K |
Bug Byte |
02B004 |
£11.50 |
Fruit Machine |
B |
Bug Byte |
03B006 |
£5.50 |
BBC Airlift |
B |
Bug Byte |
02B007 |
£5 50 |
Polaris |
32K |
Bug Byte |
02B006 |
£550 |
BBC Chess |
32K |
Bug Byte |
02B009 |
£8 00 |
BBC Backgammon |
A/B |
Bug Byte |
02B010 |
£800 |
BBC Multifile |
16K |
Buy Byte |
02B011 |
£1500 |
BBC Micro Derby |
A/B |
Bug Byte |
026012 |
£550 |
Database |
Cosma |
03B013 |
£1950 |
|
Stock Control |
Cosma |
03B014 |
£19.50 |
|
Commercial Accts |
Cosma |
03 B0 15 |
£1950 |
|
Home Accounts |
Cosma |
03B016 |
£1950 |
|
1 nvoices / Statement |
Cosma |
03 BO 17 |
£1950 |
|
Beebtre* |
Cosma |
03B018 |
£7 95 |
|
Time Traveller |
Cosma |
03B019 |
£695 |
|
Invaders |
Cosma |
03B020 |
£695 |
|
Character Generator |
Cosma |
03B021 |
£19 50 |
|
S T P (Word Processing) |
Cosma |
03BO22 |
£1950 |
|
Mailing List |
Cosma |
03B023 |
£1950 |
|
Star Maze |
32K |
Database |
15B024 |
£7 50 |
Beet> Chase |
32K |
Database |
15B025 |
£7 50 |
Cookbook Wizardry |
Database |
1 5B026 |
£7 50 |
|
Hydraulics 14yrs |
Database |
15B027 |
£550 |
|
Electric Uyrs |
Database |
15B028 |
£550 |
|
Swoop B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B029 |
£695 |
Alien Destroyers |
32K |
Micropower |
24B030 |
£6 95 |
Galactic Commander |
32K |
Micropower |
24B031 |
£6 95 |
Timetrek |
32K |
Micropower |
24B032 |
£6 95 |
B.B.C. MICRO cont. |
Mem Reg d |
Supplier |
CodeNc |
Price |
Laser Command B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
248033 |
£695 |
Astro Navigator B A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B034 |
£4 95 |
Chess B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
240035 |
£6 95 |
Footer B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24H036 |
£6 95 |
Adventure |
Micropower |
24B0J- |
£6 95 |
|
Cowboy Shootout |
32K |
Micropower |
J4B038 |
£595 |
Munchyman |
Micropower |
.*48039 |
£5 95 |
|
Seek |
Micropower |
240040 |
£5 95 |
|
Eldorado Gold B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B04 |
£5 95 |
Roulette B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24BG42 |
C4 95 |
Reversi 2 B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B041 |
£4 95 |
Filer |
Micropowei |
. *48044 |
£8 95 |
|
Micro Budget |
Micropower |
?4B04^ |
£695 |
|
Constellation B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B046 |
£595 |
Disassembler |
Micropower |
24B04' |
£5 95 |
|
World Geography |
32K |
Micropower |
74B048 |
£5 95 |
Where B/A |
32K |
Micropower |
24B049 |
£5 95 |
Junior Maths Pack |
32K |
Micropower |
2 4 B0 30 |
£5 95 |
Startrek /Candyfloss |
AorB |
UK Software |
33 BOO’ |
£6 50 |
6 Games |
AorB |
1 J K Software |
33B002 |
£450 |
Mutant inv/ Breakout |
AorB |
IJK Software |
338003 |
£6 50 |
Beep Beeb B or A |
32K |
1 J K Software |
33B004 |
£4 50 |
Beebmunch B or A |
32K |
1 J h Software |
33B005 |
£6 50 |
Super Hangman Bor A |
32K |
1 J K Software |
31B006 |
£4 50 |
3D Maze B or A |
32K |
1 J K Software |
v>n • • |
£4 50 |
Invaders A |
IJK Software |
JJbOur |
£550 |
|
Invaders B or A |
32K |
IJK Software |
33B009 |
£7 50 |
Wordpro B or A |
32K |
1 J K Software |
33B01C |
£t0 50 |
Atlantis/Scrambie |
32K |
1 J K Software |
33B01* |
£7 50 |
Flags |
32K |
1 J K Software |
33B012 |
£4 50 |
Hyperdrive |
32K |
• J K Software |
33BO’ 3 |
£650 |
Strato Bomber |
32K |
IJK Software |
33B014 |
£7 50 |
DRAGON 32
Area Radar Control |
Cosma |
03C0O’ |
£6 95 |
Danger Island |
Cosma |
03C002 |
£6 95 |
Pairs |
Cosma |
03C003 |
£695 |
Berserk (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17C004 |
£1995 |
Meteoroids (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17C005 |
£1995 |
Cosmic Invaders lead) |
Dragon Data |
17C006 |
£1995 |
Ghost Attack (cad) |
Dragon Data |
1 7 C00 7 |
£2495 |
Cave Hunter (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17C008 |
£1995 |
Starship Chameleon (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17C009 |
£1995 |
Astrobiast (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17COtO |
£19 95 |
Chess (cad) |
Dragon Data |
17C011 |
£1995 |
Dragon Selection One |
Dragon Data |
17C0t2 |
£7 95 |
Dragon Selection Two |
Dragon Data |
t7C013 |
£7 95 |
PCN MAR 25. 1983
8
DRAGON 32 COBt. MemReq'd Quasi (cass)
Madness & The Mnotaur Personal F nance Graphic Animator Compute Voice Examples from the Manual Cahxto island Black Sanctum Typing Tutor Dragon Mountain Flag
Galax Attack (cart)
Ftail Runner (cart)
Breakout/Middle Kingdom
Dragon Invaders Escape
Mansion Adventure Jerusalem Adventure Williamsburg Adventure Uftmate Adventure Phantom Slayer Pl»>et Invasion 4 Games Pack 1 4 Games Pack 2 4 Games Pack 3 Racer Ball Scarfman Space Monopoly Space War Storm
Invaders Revenge
BUY ‘N TRY .... THE SURE WAY TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR COMPUTER
Software Centre s great Buy n Try deal stops costly mistakes by making sure you only keep what you really want. It simply makes more sense to buy ‘n try.
Supplier |
Coda No |
Price |
Dragon Data |
17C014 |
£7.96 |
Dragon Data |
17C015 |
£7.96 |
Dragon Data |
17C016 |
£7.96 |
Dragon Data |
17C017 |
£7 96 |
Dragon Data |
17C018 |
£7.96 |
Dragon Data |
17C019 |
£7.96 |
Oaggn Data |
17CG20 |
£7.95 |
Dragon Data |
17C021 |
£7.95 |
Dragon Data |
17CQ22 |
£7.95 |
Dragon Data |
17C023 |
£7.96 |
Dragon Data |
17C024 |
£7.95 |
Dragon Data |
17C02S |
£19.95 |
Dragon Data |
17C026 |
£19 95 |
Dragon Data |
17CQ27 |
£7.96 |
Microdeal |
21C028 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C029 |
£8 00 |
M ter odea! |
21 COSO |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C031 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C032 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C033 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C034 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C035 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C036 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C037 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C038 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C039 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C040 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C041 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C042 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C043 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C044 |
£8.00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C045 |
£8 00 |
Mcrodeai |
21C046 |
£8.00 |
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM
Planet of Death Inca Curse Ship of Doom Espionage Island Reversj/Othello Club Record Contlr Collectors Pack Gl Games i G2 Games 2 G3 Games 3
G4 Games 4 G5 Games 5 Pastmes 1 Pastimes 2 Space Raiders
48K
48K
48K
48K
48K
Hungry Horace Biorhythms
Geography 1 Inventions 1 Music 1
English Literature Chess
Flight Simulation VU-CLAC VU-fILE VU-3D Arcadia Scramble Master Chess Sorcercers Castle Cosmic Raiders Krazy Kong Astro Scramble Arcade
Spectral Invaders Spectres
Aspect Edrtor/Assemble Gulpman 16/48K Infa Red 1 6/48K Nightflite 16/48K Turtle 2 16/48K Ultraviolet 16/48K Ortxter 16/48K Speakeasy
48K 48 K
Artie
Artie
Artie
Arbc
Mo
ICL
ICL
ICL
ICL
ICL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
CL
Cl
Microgen
Psion Psion Imagine Micro Gen Micro Gen Micro Gen Micro Gen Cotech Cotech Cotech Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Software Masters Software Masters Software Masters Software Masters Software Masters
The Chess Player Space Intruders Meteor Storm L-Game Basic Database Management Stock Control Commercial Accounts
48K
48K
48K
16K
16K
16K
Quick silva
Queksitva
Quicksilva
Qucksilva
Qucksilva
Qucksilva
Coema
Coema
Coema
250001
250002
25D003
25D004
26D005
27D006
27D007
27D008
27D009
27D010
27D011
27D012
27D013
270014
27D015
27D016
27D017
27D018
27D019
27D020
27D021
270022
27D023
060024
28D025
280026
28D027
280028
050029
060030
060031
060032
060033
070034
070035
07DO36
020037
020038
02D039
080040
080041
060042
080043
080044
080045
120046
120047
120048
120049
120050
120051
030052
030053
030054
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM MemReqd |
Supplier |
Code No |
Price |
|
Home Accounts |
Coama |
03D055 |
£19.96 |
|
Invoices and Statements |
Coama |
03D056 |
£19.96 |
|
Pharoahs Tomb (4 games) |
Coama |
03D057 |
£19.96 |
|
Character Generator |
Coama |
03D058 |
£19.96 |
|
Mailing List |
Coama |
030059 |
£19.96 |
|
S T P Word Processing |
Coama |
030061 |
£19.95 |
|
Cookbook Wizardry |
48K |
Database |
150062 |
£7.50 |
Meteoroids |
DK T rones |
09D063 |
£4.95 |
|
3DTanx |
DK T rones |
09 0064 |
£4.95 |
|
Centipede |
DK T rones |
090065 |
£4.95 |
|
Ground Force Zero |
DKTroncs |
09D066 |
£5.00 |
|
Master Chess |
Micro Gen |
06D067 |
£6.95 |
|
Socerers Castle |
Micro Gen |
060068 |
£5.50 |
|
Cosmc Raiders |
Micro Gen |
060069 |
£5 95 |
|
Orbit er |
16/48K |
SWersoft |
290001 |
£5.95 |
Ground Attack |
16/48K |
Silver soft |
290002 |
£5.95 |
Starship Enterprise |
48K |
SWersoft |
290003 |
£5.95 |
SOFTWARE CENTRE 24 LINE ORDER SERVICE 01
HOUR HOT-
-487-5974
SINCLAIR ZX81
£6.95 £6.95 £6.95 £6.95 £7.95 £9.95 £9 95 £495 £4.95 £4.95 £4.95 £4.96 £4.95 £495 £4.95 £4.95 £5 95 £6 95 £6 95 £6 95 £6 95 £695 £6 95 £7.95 £7.95 £8 95 £8.95 £9 95 £5 50 £5.50 £6 95 £5 50 £5.95 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 £8.00 £9 00 £5.96 £6.75 £5.96 £6 00 £7.50 £5.96 £4.96 £6.96 £6.96 £4.96 £4.96 £3.96 £19.96 £19.96 £19.96
Space Invaders |
Sinclair |
20E001 |
£3.95 |
|
Breakout |
Sndair |
20E002 |
£3.95 |
|
Bomber |
Sinclair |
20E003 |
£3.95 |
|
ZX Chess |
Sndair |
POE 004 |
£6.50 |
|
Sorcerer s Castle |
Sndair |
20E005 |
£3.95 |
|
1KZX Chess |
Sndair |
20E006 |
£2.95 |
|
Thro the wall/Scrambie |
Pawn |
20E007 |
£4.95 |
|
Super Glooper/Frogs |
16K |
Psion |
20E006 |
£4.95 |
IK Games Pack |
Sndair |
20 E 009 |
£5.95 |
|
Planet of Death |
16K |
Artie |
20E010 |
£5.95 |
Inca Curse |
16K |
Artie |
20E011 |
£5 95 |
The Ship of Doom |
16K |
Sndair |
20E012 |
£5 95 |
Espionage Island |
16K |
Sndair |
20E013 |
£5.95 |
TooAut |
16K |
Sinclair |
20E014 |
£5.95 |
Reversi /Othello |
16K |
Mcx |
20E015 |
£6 95 |
Games 1 |
ICL |
20E016 |
£3 95 |
|
Junior Education 2 |
ICL |
20E017 |
£3 95 |
|
Business & Household 3 |
ICL |
20E018 |
£3.95 |
|
Games 4 |
ICL |
20E019 |
£3.95 |
|
Junior Education 5 |
ICL |
20E120 |
£3.95 |
|
Family Quiz 6 |
ICL |
20E121 |
£3.95 |
|
Gl 2 Fantasy Games |
Psion |
20E122 |
£4.75 |
|
G13 Space Raiders |
Psion |
20E123 |
£4.75 |
|
Gl Super Program 1 |
ICL |
20E124 |
£495 |
|
G2 Super Program 2 |
ICL |
20E125 |
£4.95 |
|
G3 Super Program 3 |
ICL |
20E125 |
£4.95 |
|
G4 Super Program 4 |
CL |
20E127 |
£495 |
|
G5 Super Program 5 |
ICL |
20E128 |
£4 95 |
|
G6 Super Program 6 |
CL |
20E129 |
£4.95 |
|
G7 Super Program 7 |
CL |
20E130 |
£20 95 |
|
G8 Super Program 8 |
ICL |
20E131 |
£4.95 |
|
GlO Backgammon |
Pswn |
20E132 |
£5.95 |
|
G14 Flight Simulation |
Psion |
20E133 |
£5.95 |
|
El English Lit. 1 |
CL |
20E134 |
£6 95 |
|
E2 English Lit. 2 |
CL |
20E135 |
£695 |
|
E3 Geography |
CL |
20E136 |
£6.95 |
|
E4 History |
CL |
20E137 |
£6.95 |
|
E5 Maths i |
CL |
20E138 |
£6.95 |
|
E6 Music 1 |
CL |
20E139 |
£6 95 |
|
7 Inventions 1 |
CL |
20E140 |
£6.95 |
|
E8 Spelling 1 |
CL |
20E141 |
£695 |
|
Gil Chess |
Psion |
20E142 |
£6 95 |
|
G9 Biorhythms |
Sndair |
20E143 |
£6 95 |
|
B3VU-CALC |
Sndair |
20E144 |
£7.95 |
|
B4 VU-FILE |
Sinclair |
20E145 |
£7 95 |
|
B1 Collectors |
Sndair |
20E146 |
£9 95 |
|
B2 Club Records |
Sndair |
20E147 |
£9.95 |
|
Scramble |
16K |
Sndair |
20E148 |
£3.95 |
Invaders |
16K |
Sndair |
20E149 |
£3.95 |
Asteroids |
16K |
Sndair |
20E150 |
£3.95 |
Defenders |
16K |
Sndair |
20E151 |
£3.95 |
Breakout |
16K |
Sndair |
20E152 |
£5.95 |
Computacalc |
16K |
Sndair |
20E153 |
£7.95 |
Constellation |
16K |
Sndair |
20E154 |
£8.00 |
Labyrinth |
16K |
Sndair |
20E155 |
£5 95 |
Magnus |
16K |
Sndair |
20E156 |
£9 95 |
Mazogs |
16K |
Sndair |
20E157 |
£10.00 |
Mugsy |
16K |
Sndair |
20E158 |
£5 95 |
Murgatroyds |
16K |
Sndair |
20E159 |
£5.95 |
Murgatroyds Revenge |
16K |
Sndair |
20E160 |
£5.95 |
Nightmare Prk/Music |
16K |
Sndair |
20E161 |
£6 95 |
PEP |
16K |
Sndair |
20E162 |
£5.95 |
Psnl Banking System |
16K |
Sndair |
20E163 |
£9.95 |
Pilot |
16K |
Sndair |
20E164 |
£5.95 |
Progmerge |
16K |
Sndair |
20E165 |
£5.95 |
Puckman |
16K |
Sndair |
20E166 |
£5.95 |
Space Intruders |
16K |
Sndai |
20E167 |
£5.95 |
Space Invds/Rescue |
16K |
Sndair |
20E168 |
£6.95 |
Star Trek/30 Os/Xs |
16K |
Sndair |
20E169 |
£6.95 |
ZX81 Chess |
16K |
Sndair |
20E170 |
£6.90 |
Bumper 7 |
IK |
Sndair |
20E171 |
£5.95 |
Games Pack |
IK |
Sndair |
20E172 |
£6.00 |
Super Tno |
IK |
Sndair |
20E173 |
£7.95 |
Ground Attack |
Sndair |
20E174 |
£5.95 |
|
Mazogs |
16K |
Bug Byte |
20E175 |
£10.00 |
Invaders |
16K |
Bug Byte |
20E176 |
£4.00 |
Adventure |
Bug Byte |
20E177 |
£8.00 |
PCN MAR25.1983
9
SINCLAIR ZXB1 conL Mam Raq d |
Supplier |
Code No |
Price |
VIC 20 cont. |
|
ZXAS Assembler |
Bug Byte |
206170 |
£5.00 |
S.T.P (Word Processng) |
|
ZXTK Toolkit |
Bug Byte |
206179 |
£6 00 |
Mailing List |
|
ZXD6 D/smblar & Debugger |
• |
Bug Byte |
206180 |
£6 50 |
Space Hero |
Damsel and the Beast |
Bug Byte |
206181 |
£6.50 |
Quest |
|
Dictator |
Bug Byte |
206182 |
£9 00 |
Martian Raider |
|
Star Trek |
Bug Byte |
206183 |
£5 00 |
Mind Twisters |
|
Constellation |
Bug Byte |
206184 |
£9.00 |
Shark Attack |
|
Multifile |
16K |
Bug Byte |
206185 |
£17.50 |
Mu It (sound Synthesizer |
Awan |
Sodair |
206186 |
£6 96 |
Sea Invasion |
|
Games Pack i |
Sinclair |
206187 |
£4.75 |
Space Attack |
|
Games Pack 2 |
Sinclair |
206188 |
£4.75 |
Vic Chess |
|
Asteroids |
Sndair |
206189 |
£4.96 |
Vic Asteroids |
|
Centipede |
Sinclair |
206190 |
£4.96 |
Another Vic m the Wall |
|
Defender |
Sodair |
206191 |
£496 |
Vic Pane |
|
Space invaders |
Sinclair |
206192 |
£4.96 |
Cosmaids |
|
Games Tape - 10 Games |
Vic Gammon |
||||
Starfighter /Pyramid/ |
IK |
JKGreye |
326001 |
£3.95 |
Vic Scramble |
Artist |
IK |
J K Greye |
32E002 |
£3 95 |
Martian Raider |
Catacombs |
16K |
JKGreye |
326003 |
£4.96 |
Mynad |
30 Monster Maze |
16K |
JKGreye |
326004 |
£496 |
Avenger (cart) |
30 Defender |
16K |
JKGreye |
326005 |
£496 |
Star Battle (cart) |
Breakout |
IK |
JKGreye |
326006 |
£1 95 |
Super Slot (cart) |
MemReq'd
16K
16K
CALLING DEALERS!
You’ve seen the massive growth of video libraries .... you’ve seen nothing yet! Software Centre s great new ‘Buy ’n Try deal offers the best software deal ever If you want a bit of the action . . .. and a share of the success ... call us right a way
VIC 20 |
||||
Vic Forth (cart) |
Adda |
01V001 |
£38.95 |
|
Vic Slat (cart) |
Adda |
01V002 |
£28 95 |
|
Vic Graph (cart) |
Adda |
01V003 |
£28.95 |
|
Facemaker |
16K |
ASK |
14V004 |
£8.95 |
Twister |
16K |
ASK |
14V005 |
£895 |
Number Chaser |
8K |
ASK |
14V006 |
£8 95 |
We Want to Count |
16K |
ASK |
14V007 |
£8 95 |
Frogger |
3K |
Rabbit |
13V008 |
£9 99 |
Ski-Run |
Rabbit |
13V009 |
£499 |
|
Space Storm |
Rabbit |
13V010 |
£6 99 |
|
Cosmic Battle |
Rabbit |
t3V01 1 |
£499 |
|
Rainbow Towers |
ASK |
14V012 |
£8 95 |
|
Number Gulper |
ASK |
14V013 |
£8 95 |
|
Super Worm |
Rabbit |
13V014 |
£4.99 |
|
Night Flight |
3K |
Rabbit |
13V015 |
£4.99 |
Rabbit Writer |
16K |
Rabbit |
t3V016 |
£t9.99 |
Chartset |
3K |
Rabbit |
13V017 |
£4.99 |
Rabbit Functions |
Rabbit |
13V018 |
£499 |
|
Rabbit Base |
16K |
Rabbit |
13V019 |
£14.99 |
Home Office |
8K |
Navajo |
16V020 |
£12.96 |
Decision Maker |
Creative |
16V021 |
£14.96 |
|
Loan Analyser |
Creative |
16V022 |
£14.96 |
|
Car Costs |
Creative |
16V023 |
£14.95 |
|
Home Inventory |
Creative |
16V024 |
£14.95 |
|
Household Finance |
Creative |
16V025 |
£14.95 |
|
Forth (cart) |
Audiogenic |
16V026 |
£2495 |
|
Monitor (cart) |
Audiogenic |
16V027 |
£19.96 |
|
Bonzo |
8K |
Audogemc |
16V028 |
£7.95 |
Tomb of Drewan |
16K |
Audiogenic |
16V029 |
£12.95 |
Tr ashman (cart) |
Audiogenic |
16V030 |
£19.95 |
|
Pit |
3K |
Audiogenic |
16V031 |
£7.95 |
Astro Blitz (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V032 |
£1995 |
|
Boss |
8K |
Audogemc |
16V033 |
£14.95 |
Tank Attack (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V034 |
£1995 |
|
Outwortd (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V035 |
£19.95 |
|
Blockade |
Audogemc |
16V036 |
£6 95 |
|
Amok |
Audiogenic |
16V037 |
£6.95 |
|
Vicalc |
Audogemc |
16V038 |
£8.95 |
|
Alien Blitz |
Audogemc |
16V039 |
£7 95 |
|
Sky Math |
Audogemc |
16V040 |
£695 |
|
Space Division |
3K |
Audogemc |
t6V041 |
£6.95 |
The Alien |
3K |
Audogemc |
16V042 |
£7 95 |
Vicat |
3K |
Audogemc |
16V043 |
£8.95 |
Hangman/Hang Math |
Audogemc |
16V044 |
£7.96 |
|
Math Hurdler /Monster Maze |
Audogemc |
16V045 |
£7 95 |
|
Sea Wolf/Bounce Out/Vic |
Audogemc |
16V046 |
£895 |
|
Code Maker/Code Breaker |
Audogemc |
16V047 |
£7.95 |
|
Koamic Kamikaze |
3 or 8K |
Audiogenic |
16V048 |
£7.95 |
Minikit |
Audogemc |
16V049 |
£7.95 |
|
Goff |
Audogemc |
16V050 |
£7 95 |
|
Spiders of Mars (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V051 |
£19.95 |
|
Cloudburst (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V052 |
£19.95 |
|
Renaissance (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V053 |
£19.96 |
|
Satellites and Meteorites (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V054 |
£19.95 |
|
Meteor Run (cart) |
Audogemc |
16V055 |
£19.96 |
|
Magnificent Seven |
3K |
Audogemc |
16V056 |
£4.95 |
Mikro Assembler (cart) |
Audogemc |
t6V057 |
£48.95 |
|
Casttemath |
16K |
Audogemc |
16V058 |
£8 96 |
Arcadia |
Imagine |
05V059 |
£5.50 |
|
Database Management |
Coama |
03V060 |
£19.96 |
|
Stock Control |
Cosma |
03V061 |
£19.96 |
|
Commercial Accounts |
Coama |
03V062 |
£19.96 |
|
Home Accounts |
Coama |
03V063 |
£19.96 |
|
Invoices & Statements |
Coama |
03V064 |
£19.96 |
|
Character Generator |
Coama |
03V065 |
£19.96 |
|
Home Accounts |
Coama |
03V066 |
£19.96 |
|
Database |
Coama |
03V067 |
£19.96 |
Jelly Monsters (carl)
Alien (carl)
Super Lander (cart)
Road Race (cart)
Rat Race (cart)
Mole Attack (cart)
Artventureland (cart)
Pirate Cove (cart)
Mission Impossible (cart)
The Count (cart)
Voodoo Castle (cart)
Sargon 2 Chess (cart)
Omega Race (cart)
Blitz
Hopprt
Race
Strategic Advance 16K
Simplicalc 16K
Vic Stock Control 8K
Vic Writer 0K
English Language 8K
Maths 1 0K
Maths 2 8K
Biology 8K
Chemistry 8K
Physics 8K
Apple Tree Birds 3K
Engine Shed 3K
Lighthouse & Subtraction 3K
Quizmaster 8K
Know Your Own I Q 8K
Know Your Child's I Q. 8K
Know Your Own Personality 0K
Robert Carrier Menu Planner 8K
Vic Money Manager 8K
Vic Road User & Highway Code 8K BBC Mastermind 8K
Type A Tune Programmers Aid Cart Super Expander High Res Cartridge Machine Code Monitor Cartridge Chicken Run Dambuster Missile Panic RoadRunner Android Attack Space Hopper Star Wars 2 Mawai Attack Space Wars/Battle Zone General Knowledge Data 1 General Knowledge Data 2 General Knowledge Data 3 General Knowledge Data 4 Specialist Knowledge Wine & Food Specialist Knowledge Sport & Games Specialist Knowledge Sport Specialist Knowledge Music
BUY MEAr
Supplier
Cosma
Cosma
Cosma
Cosma
Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Bug Byte Software Masters Software Masters Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore Commodore
Commodore
Commodord
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Titan
Titan
Titan
Titan
Titan
Titan
Titan
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Commodore
Coda No
O3VO60
03V069
03 VO 70
03V071
10V072
10 VO 73
10V074
10V075
10V076
10 VO 77
02 VO 70
02 VO 79
O2VO0O
02V081
O2VO02
02V083
02V064
O0VO85
O0VO06
O4VO07
04V088
04V089
04V090
04V091
04V092
04V093
04V094
04V095
04V096
04V097
04V098
04V098
04V099
04V101
04V102
04V103
04V104
04V105
04 VI 06
04V 107
O4V1O0
04 V 109
04V110
04V111
04V112
04V 113
04V114
04V115
04V116
04V117
04V118
04V119
04 VI 20
04V121
04V122
04V123
04 VI 24
04V125
04V126
04 V 135
04 VI 36
04V137
O4V130
15V139
15V140
22V141
22V142
22V143
22V144
22V145
22V146
22V147
04V127
04 VI 28
04 VI 29
04 VI 30
04V131
04V132
04V133
04V134
Pr tea C19.95 £19.95 £6.95 £6 95 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9.99 £9 99 £9 99 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £9 99 £9 99 £1995 £19.95 £19.95 £19.95 £19.95 £1995 £1995 £1995 £19.95 £24.95 £24.95 £24.95 £24.95 £2495 £2495 £2495 £499 £4.99 £499 £499 £1995 £19.95 £19.95 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £499 £499 £499 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £9 99 £4.99 £34 95 £34 95 £34.95 £5.50 £5.50 £6 00 £500 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99 £1.99
YOUR SECOND PURCHASE
* Personal callers welcome .... come along see our snper selection!
10
PCN MAR25.I983
GREAT NEW GAMES CASSETTES FOR
ATARI FROM THE U.S.A . THE ONES
YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
Our list of latest releases from the States and extensive Atari range will be sent free with every order.
MemReq d |
Supplier |
Code No |
Price |
|
Bug Off |
16K |
Adventure Intnl |
34G052 |
£21 99 |
The Eliminator |
32K |
Adventure Intnl |
34G053 |
£17.99 |
Preppie |
16K |
Adventure Intnl |
34 GOM |
£2199 |
Sea Dragon |
16K |
Adventure Intnl |
34G055 |
£25 49 |
Stratos |
16K |
Adventure Intnl |
34G056 |
£25 49 |
Tutti Frutti |
16K |
Adventure Intnl |
34G057 |
£17.99 |
Temple of Asphai |
32K |
Automated Simuts |
35G058 |
£29.75 |
Upper Reaches of Asphai |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G059 |
£14.75 |
Invasion Onon |
24K |
Automated Smuts |
35G060 |
£18.50 |
Hellfire Warrior |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G061 |
£29.75 |
The Keys of Acheron |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G062 |
£14.75 |
Curse of Ra |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G063 |
£14.75 |
Danger m Drmdisti |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G064 |
£14.75 |
Datestones of Ryn |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G065 |
£14.75 |
Modoc s Tower |
32K |
Automated Smuts |
35G066 |
£14.75 |
Rescue at Rigel |
32K |
Automated Smuls |
35G067 |
£22 00 |
Star Warrior |
32K |
Automated Smuls |
35G068 |
£2975 |
Crush. Crumble 4 Chomp |
32K |
Automated Smuls |
35G069 |
£22.00 |
Ricochet |
16K |
Automated Smuls |
35G070 |
£14.75 |
King Arthur s Heir |
16K |
Automated Smuls |
35G071 |
£14.75 |
Monster Maze |
Automated Smuls |
35G072 |
£29.75 |
|
Platter Mama |
Automated Smul |
35G073 |
£29 75 |
|
Alien Garden |
Automated Smuls |
35G074 |
£29.75 |
|
Action Quest |
16K |
J V Software |
36G075 |
£22.00 |
Ghost Encounters |
16K |
JV Software |
36G076 |
£22 00 |
Journey to the Planets |
32K |
J V Software |
36G077 |
£22 00 |
God |
16K |
RoklanCorp |
37G078* |
£33.25 |
Wizard of Wo r |
16K |
RoklanCorp |
37G079* |
£33.25 |
Battle of Shiloh |
48 K |
Strategic Smuls |
38G080 |
£31 00 |
Tigers m the Snow |
40K |
Strategic Smuls |
38G081 |
£31.00 |
Firebird |
4K |
Gebeili Software |
39G082* |
£29 50 |
Embargb |
8K |
Gebelli Software |
39G083* |
£33 00 |
Guardian of the Gom |
32K |
In-Home Software |
40G084 |
£22.00 |
Sentinel 1 |
24K |
In-Home Software |
40G085 |
£22 00 |
Pool 400 |
16K |
Innovative Design |
41G086" |
£29 50 |
Choplifter |
16K |
Broderbund |
42G087* |
£29 95 |
Stellar Shuttle |
32K |
Broderbund |
42G088 |
£23.55 |
Moon Shuttle |
16K |
Datasoft Inc |
43G089 |
£31.40 |
Zaxxon |
16K |
Datasoft Inc |
43G090 |
£31.40 |
Astro Chase |
32K |
First Star Software |
44G091 |
£22.00 |
Venus Voyager |
16K |
English Software Co |
45G092 |
£1995 |
Baia Buggies |
16K |
Gamestar |
46G093 |
£22.00 |
Claim Jumper |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G094 |
£27 50 |
Claim Jumper |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G095* |
£29 95 |
Shamus |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G096 |
£27.50 |
Shamus |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G097- |
£29 95 |
Picnic Paranoia |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G098 |
£27.50 |
Picnic Paranoia |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G099- |
£29 95 |
Necromancer |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G100 |
£27 50 |
Necromancer |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G101* |
£29 95 |
Survivor |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G102 |
£27.50 |
Survivor |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G103* |
£29 95 |
Shamus II |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G104 |
£27.50 |
Shamus II |
16K |
Synapse Software |
47G105* |
£29 95 |
Star gate Courier |
16K |
Syncor |
48G106’ |
£27.50 |
Laser Ants |
16K |
Syncro |
48G107 |
£18.50 |
Laser Ants |
16K |
Syncro |
48G108* |
£26 75 |
Astron IX |
16K |
Syncro |
48G109 |
£18.50 |
• Denotes cartridge
SOFTWARE CENTRE 128 WIGMORE
BUY ‘N TRY CP/M* BASED BUSINESS SOFTWARE
These fully proven programs are designed to run on CP/M* based machines. They have been fully audited by H.M. Customs & Excise and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue wherever necessary, and have been planned and written in the U.K. All our business software has been extensively proved in the field through our substantial user base. And remember .... the usual Buy 4n’ T ry terms apply .... so it’s easy to upgrade as your needs grow
All these programs come complete with systems specifications, manual and operating instructions. For further information just give us a ring.
TRYSAL’ - Sales ledger Balance brought forward or open system option Provides day books audit trails statements cash posting, arrears schedule and account enquiry £250.00
TRYPUR - Purchase ledger Choice of balance brought forward/open item system Day books audit trails remittance advices . cheque posting £250 00
TRYNOM Nominal ledger Eitier direct posting from purchase ledger or manual posting option Trading A/C. P L. balance sheet management information all at the press of a button £250.00
TRYSTOK - Stock control Controls raw materials and finished goods Uses your number/code system Can produce parts explosion 4 works orders stock valuation re-order levels and stock profitability £250.00
TRYCOST' - Costing program A remarkably versatile system suitable for manufacturers builders etc Ideal for those needing sophisticated cost control of time and/or materials as well as sub¬ contract/external supplies Includes provision for both budgets and actuals £300.00
TRYPAY* - Payroll Suitable for all permutations of wages hourty weekly or piecework Embraces monthly salaries and all deductions Compfces with all Govt regulations prorkjces P60 4 P35. and meets all needs of new sick pay provisions £350.00
'TRYBILL’ - Invoicing Interfaces directly to the sales ledger and stock ledger as required £100.00
TRYTRANS' Transport route planner Helps plan loading pick lists schedules routes lor optimal efficiency Enormously valuable lo transport fleet operators Designed to be user friendly £350.00
All Buy n Try business software is suitable for IBM PC. Sirius and sll CP/M* based machines
* Trademark of Digital Research
BUY WITH
CONFIDENCE .... TRY AT YOUR LEISURE
When we send your software order you'll find a return address label and a list of the buy-back prices for each item
Remember we are pledged to buy back your software against a new purchase of equivalent or greater catalogue value provided you purchase it from us And you get a full six months to decide whether to keep your software or benefit from the buy-back option
Of course, if you wish to return two or more software items against the purchase of a more expensive item then provided that their initial purchase price does not exceed that of the new program you want we II be happy to help
STREET LONDON W1 Tel 01-487-5974
ORDER FORM
Please rush me the following programs, and put me on the Sofware Centre mailing list for program up-dates and great special purchase offers.
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PCN MAR25, 1983
11
PCN MONITOR
Epson’s HX-20 — not only portable, now it’s useful too.
Relief is in sight for all of you Epson HX-20 owners who bought the portable computer that slips into a briefcase’ only to find that there was no software to run on it.
Epson UK has launched a suite of packages that form a personal office system for the machine.
Already available on micro- cassette or plug-in ROM card are a diary that works with the micro's built-in clock, a mailing list, and a card index program that can be used as an address book or telephone directory.
Also available is a program called D.I.Y., a program generator that allows you to tailor the HX-20 to your own applications. By answering a seriesof questions you can write data capture/handling routines without learning Basic.
Sold under the Eponsoft label, the diary and card index programs cost £29.70 and the mailing list and D.I.Y. prog¬ rams sell for £34.50. All four
The mystery of the faulty Spec¬ trum power packs has been solved. It seems the faulty batch contained a printed circuit board inside the transformer. A pair of tracks were so close
programs can also be bought as ROM cards for £86.25 each, and are available from Epson dealers.
On its way, but not available yet, is Correspondent, a pro¬ gram that allows you to write and format documents. It can
together there was a danger that a harsh spike down the line could cause a bridge between them.
This would have made the low-voltage connection be-
be linked with the mailing list and can also be used with an external printer.
Meanwhile Kuma. the Maidenhead software house, has brought out a ‘home budget' package priced at £19.95.
tween the pack and the Spec¬ trum ‘live' with mains power. If someone happened to be hold¬ ing the bare end-plug at the same time as a spike arrived down the line a humid environ¬ ment could have been enough to bridge the circuits and cause a dangerous electric shock.
The fault was discovered by an engineer at one of Sinclair's repair centres and the company is going to reassess its quality control.
The Sinclair operation in¬ volves subcontracting all the manufacturing to other com¬ panies. According to Sinclair, the manufacturer concerned had successfully filled similar orders before and the Spectrum units were checked only to make sure they worked proper¬ ly. ‘We won't be making the same assumption again.' said a spokesman.
A network around the Globe
If you have been tempted by the Globe business micro you should now be able to find a dealer near you who stocks it.
Globe has upped the number of dealers to 30 and is well on the way to its target of 40 dealers nationwide.
The Globe's main claim to fame is that it uses British components throughout (with the exception of the disk drives). It also sells as a com¬ plete package — hardware plus software for £2.128.
The result is a system with 64K memory, dual disks hold¬ ing a total of one megabyte, a CP/M operating system and Wordstar, Mailstar and Plan- nercalc software packages.
Top end of the range is a system featuring 2.4 megabytes of storage in 8in disks and costing £3,690.
Globe can be contacted on
0934-935222.
Go-faster Forth on BBC and Spectrum
Forth fans should now be able to run this super-fast language on their Sinclair Spectrums, and BBC owners who already have Forth up and running can get a toolkit package to extend the language's capabilities.
Artie Computing, suppliers of a Forth package for the ZX81, this week launched a Forth implementation for the Spectrum.
Selling at £14.95 it has ‘all the Forth features except disk handling,' the company claims.
The Forth Toolkit for the BBC machine comes from Level 9 Computing a company that released a Forth package for the micro a few months ago.
The toolkit, which costs £10, gives the user extra facilities such as turtle graphics, a 6502 assembler, a decompiler of Forth words and the ability to work with games joysticks and printers.
Artie Computing can be reached on 0482-75284 and Level 9 on 0494-26871.
Shop around before buying. Mike Hampson, at 7 Hereford Drive, Clitheroe, Lancs, is advertising Spectrum Forth on cassette for only £5.95.
MICRO TEACHER — Five new educational packs for BBC micros are now available from Acomsoft. Word Sequencing, Sentence Sequencing, Missing Signs, Word Hunt and Number Balance retail for £15.35 or £11.90, for disk or cassette, available direct from Acomsoft head office.
Why Sinclair recalled those power packs
12
PCN MAR 18. 1983
SOME EXISTING
JoSbft
APPLICATIONS
• Advertising Schedules
• Appointments Planning
• Bank Accounting • Bonus Schemes
• Book Keeping • Budget Control
• Bureaux De Change
• Commission Invoicing
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• Credit Control • Customer Files
• Dental Records • Diary
• Equipment Leasing/Rental/HP
• Estate Agents • Estate Management
• Expense Accounting • Farm Records
• Fleet Vehicle Management
• Index of Books • Insurance Premiums
•Invoicing • Job Costing
• Laboratory Data Handling
• Mailing • Manufacturing Costing
• Medical Records • Medical Research
• Membership Accounting & Records
• Name & Address Files
• Office Administration • Parts List
• Personnel Records • Petty Cash Ledger
• Plant/Asset Register
• Portfolio Management • Price Lists
• Property Management*
• Purchase Ledger • Records Keeping
• Registers • Rota Planning
• Route Planning ^Royalty Payments
• Sales/Purchase Order Files
• Seating Arrangements
• Sickness & Absence Register
• Statistics • Stock Control
• Test Data Storage
• Theatre Event Costing • Time Costing
• Training Progress Reports
• Vehicle Costing
. . . and your application too!
One program - One price Thousands of uses!
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For people with second thoughts about computing
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14
PCN MAR25.1983
PCN MONITOR
r
Prospero conjures a Z80 Fortran package
The debate raging over the merits of Basic and newer languages such as Pascal and Forth might lead you to think that the mainframe language Fortran is headed for the scrapheap.
But Prospero, the London software house, doesn’t share that view. It has just released a Fortran compiler for Z80-
based micros. The £250 pack¬ age runs on any CP/M machine with a minimum 56K memory and two 100K drives.
The compiler generates na¬ tive Z80 code directly and conforms fully to the America National Standards Institute Fortran 66 standard rather than the more recent Fortran 77 standard.
‘We have chosen the older version because there is such a large amount of software avail¬ able for it,’ said Mike Oakes, a director of Prospero.
The package includes the compiler, a disk-to-disk editor, the run-time library, a library management utility and a pro¬ gram to configure a working copy of the software to suit
variations, such as different disk capacities.
It has been designed to work with the native code Pascal compiler produced by the same company and as a result it is possible to write programs mix¬ ing the two languages.
Prospero says execution speed and accuracy are second to none among 8-bit languages.
Multi-user Archives for
£10,000
Coming upstream from Salmon Electronics is a multi-user, multiprocessor micro system.
With the Archives IV, Sal¬ mon says, you will be able to set up a system for five users at less than £10,000.
The company freely admits that the Archives IV is no technological triumph. ‘There is nothing very new in it/ a spokesman said. ‘But every¬ thing is tried and tested and it works/
With Z80 processors, an S100 bus, and MP/M, the sys¬ tem’s elements do have a famil¬ iar look.
Salmon, the UK distributor for US Archives machines since 1981, can be contacted on Darlington 0325 721368.
COLOUR CO-ORDINATED — From the company that brought you just about the cheapest monochrome monitor on the market comes the Zenith ZVM 121-EV colour monitor. This has a 13in screen and will run with most computers with RGB output. It will cost you £506 from Zenith Data Systems on 0452-29451.
Six pack from Oric
The first software for the Oric will be hitting the shops by the end of this month.
Oric itself has produced six packages including a £17.50 version of Forth, Chess for £9.99 and Oric Base for £9.95. They will be available from Dixons, Lasky’s, WH Smith, Micro-C, Spectrum and other dealers.
Bug-Byte Software will also be releasing an adventure game. The Castle, for £8 early in April.
As for the machine itself: Oric says it’s coming.
Independent puts another card into the Apple pack
Th« U-C0M2: more Apple compatible? So says U-Computers.
Music and mayhem on your Beeb
Four new games are on the way for BBC users.
Bug-Byte, the Liverpool- based software house, will be slipping the new packages onto the market in two weeks.
For £7.50 each you will be able to play Galaxy Wars, City Defence or Space Invaders. For those with a musical ear there is the Music Synthesiser at £9.50.
Mr Baden says these new packages will be available from Bug-Byte’s 220 dealers and, in the future, from WH Smith and Boots.
A Manchester company has come up with an offbeat up¬ grade for adventurous owners of the Apple II.
U-Computers, a manufac¬ turer of add-on cards for Apple II, has developed a new mothercard for the Apple bus.
The company claims its U- COM2 board offers greater compatibility with the Apple II than Apple’s own card, the Super lie.
Dr Bill Unsworth, managing director of U-Computers, says: ‘The Super lie does not have Slot 0, the U-COM2 does. ' The significance of that is that many programs relocate the disk operating system into a 16K card, giving the user more free memory.
Dr Unsworth says the pres¬
ence of Slot 0 means U-COM2 can make that relocation while the Super He can’t.
The U-COM2 costs £249 in fully-tested board form. A power supply is available for £71 and a special 40-column
display board costs £39.
Apple Computers did not wish to comment on U- Computers, which is located at Winstanley Industrial Estate, Long Lane, Warrington, Cheshire. Tel. 0925 54117/8.
PCN MAR 25. 1983
15
A ,M : (I I'; !' )
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Office telephone 01*994 6477 9-5 pm Ansaphone Telephone 994 4470 Access telephone orders gladly accepted Dealer enquiries welcome
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with host adaptor and software > cased with PSU + controller for TRS80 Model I & II
£1195
with host adaptor and software
• bare £600
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16
PCN MAR25.1983
Letters come from people like you, so pull out your INKEY finger and feed usa line. Ifit’s the best of the week’s input PCN will add £10 to your spreadsheet.
Address us at Random Access, Personal Computer N ews, VNU , Evelyn House . 02 ( heford Street, London W1 A 2HG.
Out of order?
Some time in early December ( I forget the exact date) I sent off the order form for the Oric culled from one of the micro¬ computer magazines. Sure enough, the Oric failed to materialise inside the obliga¬ tory time-frame.
Why is it that the mail-order computer companies can con¬ tinue to get away with this sort of activity?
Friends have experienced similar delivery problems with Sinclair some time ago and in spite of the hue and cry raised at the time nothing seems to have changed. Why is nothing done? Duncan Snelling Putney, SW15.
Clear away the copyright clouds
I am a complete layman in legal matters, but I feel I should comment on the current con¬ troversy concerning software copyright.
The copyright laws have not been clarified by the courts, and I assert that it is has yet to be shown that copyright applies to computer software and hard¬ ware, except where the soft¬ ware is in documentary form. Therefore, as the law stands at present, no copyright exists in computer tapes or ROMs in whatever form they are manu¬ factured.
I was at one time completely sympathetic with the copyright concept , when it applied only to Iterary and musical works, and when the proceeds of royalties benefited the authors.
I began to lose my sympathy when the recording companies formed an organisation which extorted additional fees, princi¬ pally for the benefit of the recording companies, from the legitimate owners of their pro¬ ducts when the products were used outside the circle of the owner’s immediate family and friends.
RANDOM ACCESS
At present the manufactur¬ ers of audio and video tapes are also making obscene noises, and the latest band to join the merry throng is the publishers of computer program tapes.
If one takes a cool look at the situation, every one of these latter-day Shylocks has already been adequately reimbursed for his labours; if he has not, he has only himself to blame.
I, like most people, have spent my life working for an employer. During my employ¬ ment I introduced many in¬ novations, some of which for all I know are still in use to this day. I received no financial reward for any of them, other than my normal salary; neither did I expect one.
When copyright genuinely exists, it is automatically con¬ ferred by publication, and no song and dance is necessary. If they want to make an issue of the matter, let them take it to court and get the law clarified.
Short of using ‘bully boy’ tactics, I agree that all are perfectly entitled to take what¬ ever steps they think fit to prevent their material being copied, and most already do so with a considerable degree of success. If they don’t like the existing law, they must take steps to get it altered, or else change their product, and pro¬ duce material which is indisput¬ ably copyright, ie listings only. R J Parsons Whitton, Middx.
Why are the prices so high?
It seems to me that someone ought to expose UK computer prices.
How many unsuspecting cus¬ tomers are aware that in the US personal computers cost rough¬ ly half what they do here?
I am at a loss to understand why this should be so. I would greatly appreciate some sort of explanation of this state of affairs, but in fact. I find it hard to believe that there is one. Mona C undick,
Dagenham, Essex
Chess champ challenged
An article on chess by David Levy was quite a coup for your first issue, and congratulations are due.
But it was disappointing to
see Levy subscribing (albeit in his last paragraph) to the te¬ dious and often repeated view that mechanical chess players will one day surpass humans.
Perhaps it would be charit¬ able to say that this is the type of conclusion to an article that rolls most readily out of the typewriter and spares the au¬ thor further thought. Perhaps Levy genuinely believes in the irresistible march of tech¬ nology.
Either way it hardly matters. Aside from the practical and philosophical objections to the idea of superhuman chess champions, consider the pur¬ pose of programming machines to play chess. Surely it isn’t simply the mountaineer’s syn¬ drome (‘because it’s there’) that is responsible for all the time and effort that has gone into chess programs.
If chess programs have any importance in the context of artificial intelligence — teaching machines to give the appearance of thinking — isn’t their technical ability vis-^-vis humans largely irrelevant?
And if they do become the greatest players in the world, and men give the game up because of a sense of inferiority, can you imagine anything more sterile than a game of chess between two machines? Andrew Gallagher,
Staines
Micros make meetings
Some people do talk rubbish — even if half the blame goes to others for printing it ( Micro hermits, PCS March 18).
Roy Church talks of ‘societal impact' and suggests that peo¬ ple already behave in an anti¬ social manner.
What does he mean? I’ve met a lot of fellow enthusiasts since I bought my Vic and now know neighbours I’d never talked to before.
Such comments can come only from someone who is already missing out — in this case missing out on micros. Andy Moise,
Mitcham.
Micronet’s call costs
Firstly, I would like to con¬ gratulate you on a first class magazine. If the standard re¬
mains as high as the sister magazine Personal Computer World , I shall eagerly await the arrival of it each week.
I would like to make one comment on your article on the new Micronet 800 network. You mention that unlike the Prestel system, most of the pages are free and you only have to pay for the cost of a local call.
This is not correct. You pay for a Computer Connect charge (currently 5p a minute), be¬ tween the hours of Sam and 6pm weekdays and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.
All other times are free, ie Sundays and public holidays, the only charge being the cost of a local call.
Bob Hallett Enfield, Middx.
Roots of the square
When R J Parsons of Whitton, Middlesex ( PCN, March IS) said he'd be dubbed square’ because of his views about computer games, he’s absolute¬ ly right.
A stuffed shirt more like. What is slightly odd is that he doesn’t seem to think games are a matter of skill.
Surely it’s better to spend hours calculating complex mathematics to land a spaceship on the moon, or exercise memory and strategy in an adventure game, rather than to doze off watching Cros¬ sroads or some mind-dulling TV quiz special.
I’m glad Mr Parsons will be glad to be called square . If this is his attitude he obviously gets very little fun elsewhere.
W Bisiker,
Guildford.
Forget
Frankenstein
I think David Levy missed a vital pont in Chess Programs (PCN March 18).
By saying ‘one day the com¬ puter will be the master, and man the powerless slave’ is nonsense.
The computer will always (Hal apart) be the slave since man will always remain the creator.
J Budge,
Exeter.
PCN MAR25.I983
17
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DATATEL ANTI GLARE SCREENS
'Apple Files' by David Miller, published by Prentice-Hall at £11.95 (paperback, 414 pages)
Of all the major skills needed for effective data-processing. disk filing techniques are the most difficult to acquire.
The oddities of Apple DOS don’t make it any easier, so this hook looked as though it might* be a welcome offering to the novice.
It’s much more than the title suggests, being a complete tuto¬ rial on writing data-handling programs in Applesoft Basic rather than on disk-files alone.
It contains complete listings of several suites of programs, some of which look comprehen¬ sive. Each chapter introduces new concepts in Basic, with a question-and-answer section to check progress. But in the attempt to lead the novice gently, the author uses some quite apalling programming techniques.
The book , no doubt , contains useful information but the poor technique obscures it. RK
'Mastering the Vic-20’ by A J Jones, E A Coley A DGJ Cole, published by Ellis Norwood,
£5.95 (paperback, 178 pages).
This is the best book I’ve seen for the Vic-20.
It’s not only readable and
understandable, but instructive and fun ; and worth the price for the example programs alone.
Among these are a music synthesiser and hi-resolution graphics drawing program, plus a machine-code dump-to- printer routine.
But the authors offer much more than examples. Starting with an introduction to the more obscure bits of Basic and a plea for structured program¬ ming, Mastering the Vic-20 moves through sound, user- defined graphics, peripherals — including the Vic printer — and useful sections on file¬ handling on cassette and disk.
The second part of the book gives an overview of the system architecture and introduces machine-code programming.
It should be on the book- shelvesofall Vicowners. PW
COMPUTING FOR THE HOBBYIST AND SMALL BUSINESS
'Computing for the Hobbyist and Small Business’, by A P Stephenson, published by Granada at £6.95 (paperback, 200 pages).
Computing for the Hobbyist and Small Business is among the latest in the wave of books for newcomers to computing. But what makes this one different is that it breaks the usual structure and sets out to group hobbyists and small business buyers together and concentrate on their needs.
The book's introduction sets the gentle style. By the time you finish it you’ve been given a good idea of what kind of micro system you need.
One particularly useful fea¬ ture is the stock control exam¬ ple program which has exten¬ sive explanatory notes.
But there are obvious short¬ falls, notably the index which is so brief it limits the book’s use for reference. However, all in all, it is a good introduction to the business of micros. JL
18
PCN MAR25, 1983
FCN Paperchase
It’s week two ... the chase is on. You should have the answer to the first part of PCN Paperchase by now — so you must be well on the way to winning one of the four BBCs we’re giving away — each worth £399.
You’ll remember that last week we asked you to unravel the first five lines of a muddled program and come up with a unique number.
An errant programmer had written a 30-liner on separate pieces of paper. But he failed to number it before a gust blew it into a heap on the floor.
The first part should not have caused you any problems. This week’s will be a little tougher — if only because we want you to decipher the next ten lines of the program.
When you’ve sorted the MID$ from the PRINTS, you'll get a three-word phrase which (and here’s the clue) is more relevant to foresters than to market gardeners.
Once you’ve cracked it, keep the answer in mind. You’ll need it to complete the final part next week, and send your solution to us.
Don’t send part answers — wait until you have solved next week’s problem. Then waste no time in claiming your chance to win a BBC. Once again . . . good luck!
p* |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At. 28. 1) : |
Pt « |
Pt |
MID* (At, 6, 1) |
||||
p* |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At, 14. 1 ) s |
Pt « |
Pt |
♦ |
MID* (At, 7, 1 ) |
|||
*p* |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At, ll,l)t |
Pt - |
Pt |
MID*<A*,9, 1 ) |
||||
p* |
MID* (At, 3, 1)* Pt - |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At, 12,2) |
||||||
A* |
" ABCDEFGH I J KLMNOPORS TUVW X Y Z |
- |
1234567890" |
||||||
p* |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At, l,l)t |
Pt - |
Pt ‘ |
♦ |
MID* (At, 3, 1) |
|||
p* |
Pt «■ |
MID* (At, 27, 1 > l |
Pt * |
Pt |
♦ |
MID* (At, 23, 1) |
|||
PRINT "PHRASE - "1 Pt P* » pt «- MID* fA*, 15, 1 ) : |
Pt - |
~Tt |
MID* (At, 18, 1) |
||||||
Pt |
* |
Pt ♦ |
MID* (At, 20, 1 ) l |
Pt - |
Pt |
♦ |
MID* (At. 19, 1) |
You don’t have to use a computer to solve this — just common sense and logic. The program is written in BBC Basic, so with only minor adjustments (such as a comma instead of a semi-colon) it will run on any machine using Basic.
HAPPINESS
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NOT FEELING THE SPIKES !
Computers don t like spikes either from lightning or load switching .
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PCN MAR25, 1983
19
Our spreadsheet sys But let’s start with
Today, computers, micros and more importantly business planning systems are no longer considered luxuries
They allow you to make better decisions by providing better information on budgeting, cash flow, project profitability, Acquisition Appraisal, Lease vs Purchase analysis and much more.
You stay one step ahead of your business and your business stays one step ahead of the competitors.
But which system should you buy? Surely no one system can meet the needs of all businesses?
Fortunately Comshare is not like most companies. We see the need for different systems to suit different people.
NEW USERS START HERE
PlannerCalc at £85.00* is now accepted as the first choice for people new to financial planning.
immediately see their effect on every thing else in the model.
It comes with the best manual on the market and it’s suitable for most micros with a ™CP/M 2.2 operating system, 64K of memory, giving at least IKK) cells, minimum screen width of 80 characters and 2 floppy disc drives.
MUCH MORE POWER,
NOT MUCH MORE MONEY
MasterPlanner is the most powerful spreadsheet system currently available with its increased matrix size, 2(XK)-30(X) cells on most 64K micros. (But at £245* it certainly isn’t the most expensive.)
Designed for 8- bit micros, it boasts the Consolidation of models, allows you to
kind of features that you’d expect to pay twice create separate plans for each department and as much for. (Buy PlannerCalc’s nearest rival then combine them into an overall company and you’ll have to.)
Unlike all other‘calc’products it allows you to enter calculations in a language you understand.
Plain English.
For example:
UNE I SALES=I00. 150. 175.210 UNE 2 EXPENSES=GROW 70 BY 15% FOR 4 UNE 3 NET=SALES— EXPENSES UNE 4 CSALES=CUM SALES COLUMN 5 YEAR= SUM OF COL I THRU COL 4
So it’s much easier to use.
It uses the popular “spread¬ sheet” approach with a window that can be rolled in all directions.
Which means you can enter new figures and rules and
20
PCN MAR25.I983
terns start at <£85.00. why you need one.
— / J OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE
plan. Data transfer to word When you invest in MasterPlanner or
■ processing and other systems PlannerCalc you’re not just getting the best lets you incorporate figures in software money can buy, reports and output to a data ^ base. It also has extensive —
formatting facilities which "
means you can produce reports l uHPLANNER
that wouldn’t look out of place in | ^Planning on aMicm
the board room.
It can store up to 25 stan- I dard reports to run when you need them. It’s I got full WHAT IF? analysis and direct editing of both spreadsheet and logic display.
JUST AS EASY TO USE
All this increased power doesn’t mean you’ll need a degree in advanced computing to understand MasterPlanner.
It works on exactly the same jjS>“ system as PlannerCalc and models A I written on PlannerCalc run without modification on MasterPlanner. L#
16 BIT VERSION
A new version of Master- Planner has been specifically designed l\, .
for the 16 bit micros like the Sirius t^t^ under ™CP/M-86 or the IBM personal using either CP/M- 86 or ™MS DOS 1 . 1 . With a vast matrix size of over 7000 cells on 128K and even more with larger memory, you’ll at last be able to make the most of your micro.
ULTIMATE POWER
Fastplan is the top Comshare micro planning system.
It’s file- based, allowing development of large scale models; with a staggering 18,000 cell matrix; full financial functions plus back¬ wards iteration, file input and output; and much more. Yet, because it can be menu driven it is easy to use. For the full story, tick the Fastplan box when you return the coupon.
) You’re also getting the kind of back up and after-sales service that only a company of Comshare’s track- record can guarantee.
If you’d like to know more about any product, call in at your local dealer or fill in the
coupon and send it to us. * Plus VAT and post k. package
Making the computer make sense.
*CP/M and ,*CP/M 86 are the registered trade marks of Digital Research Inc. Comshare Ltd., 32-34 Great Peter Street, London SW1P2DB. Telephone: 01-222 5665.
Hr: : Department pcn 3 Comshare Ltd., 32-34 Gt. Peter Street. London SW 1 P 2DB.
| Please send me: I
Qty |
Product |
Micro |
Op System |
Disc Size |
T |
Amount 1 1 |
|
PlannerCalc O £99.50 (8 bit only) |
CP/M 2 2 |
875 V/ |
|||||
MasterPlanner 0 £282.95 |
CP/M 2.2 |
875 vr |
|||||
MasterPlanner |
IBM PC |
MS IX )S 1 1 |
875 vr |
||||
MasterPlanner |
CP/M 86 |
875 W |
|||||
All prices include VAT and postage & packing |
TOTAL |
||||||
Please send me information about Fastplan Q |
I I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ _ made payable to Comshare Ltd.
I Please debit my Access Card No _ for £ _
I Bare lay card No _ forjC _
I Signature _
■ Name _
J Address _ _ _
I _ Tel. No _
| Please allow 28 days for delivery. VAT No. 238418640. Registered No. 98040*,
l ooiihur mrrvrlhr nghl not lo accept anyueden Any acceptance will betubyect toCcanthate'i term* and • \ <u
PCN MAR 25. 1983
21
16 K RAM PACKS FOR VIC 20
To the trade only
[ROUTINE inquiries;
Max BDOS ERROR ON A’ Phillips opens the pod door, Hal. Got a query? Send it - here. No personal replies promised but you never know
PLUS 80 GUARANTEE
To beat any manufacturers price on 16K and 24K RAM packs with full one year guarantee.
This offsr applies to a minimum ordsr of 10 units.
Write or phone for details to:
PLUS 80
432 GREENFORD ROAD GREENFORD MIDDLESEX
Tel: 575 1908.
Micro
Systems
Maintenance
• Maintenance of a wide range of microcomputers and associated peripherals at competitive prices.
• An independent and professional service tailored to your requirements.
• Preventative and/or corrective maintenance, on-site or depot repair.
• Flexible service from a committed team with a proven track record.
Contact us to discuss your maintenance needs, without obligation.
Micro Systems Maintenance,
P.O. Box 165, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 7YR.
Write to: Max Phillips. Routine Inquiries. Personal Computer News, VNU, Evelyn House,
62 Oxford Street, London W1A2HG
Strong silent type
An article 1 read described Pascal as being ‘strongly typed’. Can you explain what this means? The writer seemed to feel that this is not a good thing. Simon Drew,
Mitcham.
Data typing is an important part of programming as well as an issue in the structured program¬ ming debate that hasn't yet been aired.
All information is of one sort or another. The type of a piece of data is simply the set to which it belongs. So the type of a datum such as ‘34’ might be ‘whole number' or Teal num¬ ber' or ‘age'. A letter like ‘z’ might be of type ‘letter’ or type ‘character’ and so on. A vari¬ able of a particular type can only take on values from that particular set.
Pascal, being a very formal language, is full of data types. As well as the more obvious integer, real and character types, it has a Boolean type. A Boolean variable can only be true or false. So if you write ‘VAR verdict: Boolean’, you declare a variable which could only hold one of two values — true or false.
Pascal lets you add newer and ever more complex types at will. Some of the famous exam¬ ples are ‘TYPE day = (Mon¬ day, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)' or TYPE sex = (male, female)*. A variable such as ‘VAR Sexjohn: sex’ can only have the values ‘male’ and ‘female’.
You can go on building bigger and better types using array and record structures. And you can use parts of existing types, such as ‘TYPE weekday = Monday . . . Friday’.
Languages vary in the amount of typing available. Pascal is strongly typed. Basic has at most the real , integer (eg, . A%) and string types (eg, A$). BCPL has only the one type, a
16 to 32 bit word. You can do what you like with it.
Assembly language has no types at all unless you count the ‘byte’ as being a primitive type. It’s up to you to implement whatever types and structures you need out of this basic unit.
You’ve probably already spotted the advantages of strong typing. It makes pro¬ grams easier to read and debug. It ensures that, like the shaped slots in a child’s toy, nothing evergoes where it shouldn't. So TODAY: = MALL isn't allowed. Strong typing can allow some compilers to gener¬ ate very efficient code.
But it can be very restrictive. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to write TODAY: = YESTERDAY + 1*. If you have a ‘TYPE colour = (red, green, blue)', why can’t you later say ‘WHITE: = red + green + blue’? In Basic red T RED = 1: LET GREEN = 2: LET BLUE = 4’ followed by LET WHITE = RED + GREEN + BLUE’ is not only just as clear but it also works.
A compiler which permits strong typing and implements full checking of variables can easily end up with an over-sized run-time library.
Systems programmers tend to avoid typing, applications programmers tend to use it.
Catty
questions
I have a question over which * have lost much sleep. I have a cat and my husband has a micro¬ computer. The computer sits near a sunny window in my husband’s study and the cat has taken to lying on the keyboard. Is the cat in any danger?
Judith Orr,
London NW1.
No, not unless your husband is a fast typist. Keyboards tend to be safe to touch and I doubt whether the cat’s eyesight will be impaired through staring at the screen all day. Cats rarely do anything that strikes them as uncomfortable.
I’m more worried about the computer. Cat fur and paw- prints will not improve the reliability of floppy disks.
22
PCN MAR25, 1983
ROUTINE INQUIRIES
Neither, for that matter, is leaving disks near a sunny window a sensible practice. Move the computer and leave the cat where it is.
Epson
ducking the issue
Among the many ads in compu¬ ter magazines is one that seems odd. It is the one for the Epson HX-20, and it shows the machine perched on a water- spotted table over a bath. I'm no expert on care of micros but it must be bad for a machine to be in such damp conditions.
Am I right or should I not worry about computing in a sauna.
L Paddon,
Exeter.
The HX20 is far more delicate than your average rubber duck . It is strongly built and has an optional sturdy plastic case for posing when there’s no bath handy . So you could reasonably take it with you on a building siteormilk round. But like most other computers, it won’t take kindly to heat, damp, violence or silly adverts.
If you do need a computer that can be used in hostile environments (such as saunas) ring DVW Electronics (0203 668181) about the Husky. This is a serious weather-proof bat¬ tery portable, though it lacks the moving keyboard, and the till-roll printer.
ZX81 — can colour climb aboard?
I understand that I can use colour with my ZX81, hut with such a low-priced micro, is it really worth adding £40 or £50 of equipment? Are the results worth the price?
Would I do better to invest instead in a more sophisticated machine?
M Belgrave,
Ilford , Essex.
You can do anything you like with a ZX81 and add-ons. Colour hasn’t really caught on, because its difficult to get good results at a reasonable price. Haven Hardware withdrew its £40 colour board because of unstable results.
But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t spend £40 or more on a ZX81. For a start, you really need a proper keyboard and a 16K RAM pack
if you’re going to get the best out of it.
The trouble is that it’s dif¬ ficult to get software support even for some of the most popular add-ons.
That’s fine if you write your own programs, or if the com¬ pany making the hardware puts out programs. But even if you had a colour board you’d have trouble finding programs that used it.
With this in mind you might do better to save up for a more sophisticated machine. Think about a Spectrum or an Oric — both have colour, sound and so on as standard, so all the better programs on the market will take advantage of this.
Keyboard questions
Is it possible to buy a different keyboard for the Spectrum? I want one that feels more like a typewriter. Does any company make a suitable one that wouldn’t need an electronics whizz kid to fit it?
S Douglas ,
London ECl.
You’ve discovered why there is a huge market for replacement Spectrum keyboards. You can get typewriter keyboards com¬ plete with cases from several suppliers, such as Data-Assette (01-258 0409) and DK’tronics (0493 602453) for about £45.
You only need a few minutes, some care and some common- sense to fit them. The keyboards don’t have a proper space bar, but if you’re already used to having Space under your right hand this should be no trouble.
Dancing display blots out burnout
When I leave my Atari on for more than about ten minutes the display on the television changes colour.
Does this mean my graphics are unstable?
Arthur Ward,
London Nl.
No, the Atari does this deliber¬ ately. If you don’t touch the keyboard for a while, a timer starts alternating the colours on the screen. This is to prevent an image being permanently ‘burnt’ into the screen of the monitor or TV. Touching a key will restore the screen and reset the timer.
FOR BBC MICROCOMPUTER
Software
FORTH ROM and documentation . .
Manual (for newcomers to FORTH)
STATISTICS PACKAGE .
(on 5V4" Disc)
Hardware and Accessories
TORCH drives and operating system £78.00 + VAT
Printers, drives etc . Please phone for quote
FOR EPSON HX20
Software
FORTH ROM + documentation . E34.72 + VAT
(Manual available shortly)
Hardware and Accessories
EXPANSION UNIT, USV Interface etc . Please phoneforquote
COMING SOON FOR BBC MICRO
FORTH FLOATING POINT EXTENSION (ROM) COMPUTER AIDED LEARNING PACKAGE
OTHER MACHINES:
Dragon 32, Colon Genie, Apple, SWTPc
H.C.C.S. Associates
533 Durham Road, Low Fell Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE9 5EY Tel: (0632) 821924
£34.72 + VAT £6.75
£19.75 + VAT
PCN MAR25. 1983
23
ASSOCIATES
LIMITED
NAMAL
HILTON COMPUTER SERVICES LIMITED
The renowned PERSONAL BANKING SYSTEM is now available for
ZX 81 ■ ZX SPECTRUM ■ DRAGON 32
Maintain permanent records and fully detailed statements of your finances including:
* ALL cheque book transactions and bank receipts
♦ ALL standing order payments AUTOMATICALLY PROCESSED (monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or annually AND for set number of payments)
In addition the ability to search, locate, delete or correct previous entries. List by category facility is included. Additional BANK RECONCILIATION module available, (Dragon version soon) to automatically match vour Bank Statement to your PERSONAL BANKING SYSTEM account.
Full instructions included and GUARANTEED after sales maintenance provided.
PBS ZX 81 £8.95 ( 16K) ■ ZX SPECTRUM £9.95 (48K) ■ DRAGON £9.95 (32K)
REC (for use with above) £5.00
ORDER (specifying for which machine) by POST from
Hilton Computer Services Limited Dept (MD2)
14 Avalon Road. Orpington. Kent BR6 9AX
OR at the POST OFFICE using TRANSCASH ACCOUNT 302 9557
* YOUR PBS IS NEVER OUT OF DATE *
The
Dual-Density portable business
FREE: Matrix Printer
Our Normal Price £235
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
• Osborne I Microcomputer • Double Density Disc Drives • Keyboard
• Monitor • RS-232/IEEE 488 PORTS • CP/M • Micro Soft Basic
•C Basic • Wordstar • Mail Merge • Supercalc • 12 months warranty
■■ The total value of the software supplied free with the
Osborne is £800 , but this offer is for a very limited penod onlY 50 ta^e Kt|on now by telephoning Zak Computers Ltd. , , fnro 061-872 7818 or wnte to Churchill House, 88/92 Talbot Road, OUITipUltil b. Manchester M16 OPD Telex: 665449
NAMAL
24
PCN MAR25, 1983
[microwaves
If you've got something to crow about ... a bit of magic that'll make the world a better place for micro users, then send it to PCN Microwaves — our regular page of readers' hints and tips. We’ll pay you £5 if we print it. We'll pay you even more if your little gem gets our vote as microwave of the month. Think on . . . and write to Micro- waves, PCN, 62 Oxford Street, London W1A2HG.
Apple joystick out of control
Beware the reverse joystick blues.
I had just come home from playing games on a friend s Apple and had used my joystick while we were playing. When I got home I put the joystick back in my machine and sat down to write a letter using my word- processing program — Super Text — and found that my keyboard wouldn’t control the keys properly.
I turned the machine off in frustration and forgot about it for a while. When I turned the machine on the next day I loaded a games program and tried to play it; this time the joystick wouldn't move.
I soon realised I had put my joystick in backwards, thereby causing the wordprocessor and the game to work improperly.
So if you think your keyboard is packing up or worse, check the position of your joystick first.
E G Mardsen Chipping Camden
How I define BBC characters
No matter how much fun user defined characters are on the BBC, it's always awkward to type in rowsof VDU commands to create them. I always use the procedure below to define my characters.
Each character is defined by a
stringof eight hex bytes held in a DATA statement. Hex is used because it’s easier to enter and check and you don’t have to do any decimal conversions. The program decodes each string and defines characters from 224 onwards, though you could easily change this.
N Beech London N 16
Protect your Lynx graphics
I used to think my Lynx was slow, but if you use the PRO¬ TECT command, you can write quite quick graphics in Basic. PROTECT disables certain colours. So if you PROTECT MAGENTA, the Lynx doesn't update its memory for red or blue colours. It can print only in green but it does do it a lot faster.
You should be able to make any animated game use this feature. I set up a background. PROTECT it and then have any moving objects in one of the unprotected colours.
One useful command I disco¬ vered by accident is TEXT. This protects everything but green. It's useful not only for speeding up programs but it makes LISTing and editing a lot quicker as well. The Lynx has a few other surprises. There is an STR command, even if it isn't mentioned in the manual. Any¬ one else discovered any sec¬ rets?
G Carter London WI
Snooper stopper
A lot of security systems are fairly complicated to imple¬ ment, and the problem is that no matter how good it is, it can almost always be cracked.
But if you're protecting, say, club data or files for a small business, you may need only to delay snoopers rather than stop them completely.
Say your filing system in¬ volves the program giving you a number of options, and asks you to INPUT one of those
options. You need only make a small alteration to the program listing for the correct answer (as far as your software is con¬ cerned) to be a codeword rather than an actual named option.
An easily remembered cod¬ ing system would be for you to INPUT the name of the pro¬ gram at this point rather than what the computer is ostensibly asking for.
You would then be asked again for an INPUT, and this time you would put in the right answer.
Y T Hall,
Southend, Essex
Numbers trap on the Jupiter Ace
The Forth language used on the Jupiter Ace is powerful, but it holds a trap for beginners. It is possible to accidentally rede¬ fine ordinary numbers to be¬ come something else.
Programs are written in Forth by defining new com¬ mands and building them into programs. Each command is defined by typing a colon (:) followed by the name of the command and then the instruc¬ tions which make up the com¬ mand.
Once the command has been defined its name has to be keyed in and it will be performed.
The trap is that new users may accidentally leave out the name that was meant to be given to the command. If this happens the first instruction which should have followed the name will itself become the name of a new command.
This means that if, for exam¬ ple, the first instruction is the number 2, it could accidentally be redefined to be equal to the number 3. The Ace would then think that 2+2=6.
It is not easy to spot when this has happened. The best way is to keep a careful check on the list of new words by using the VLIST command. Being care¬ ful when defining new com¬ mands also helps.
L Roberts,
Holland-on-Sea, Essex.
>LIST
lOOO DEFPROC_DEFCHARS 1010 LOCAL SA,A*,I 1020 SA-224
1030 READ A** IF LEN<A*)<>16 THEN ENDPROC
1040 VDU 23, SAs FOR 1-1 TO 16 STEP 2iVDU EVAL ( "t«"«-MID* < A*, 1 , 2) > l NEXT I * SA-SA+ 1 1 Q OTO 1030
1030 REM Some sample character definitions
1060 DATA " 55 A A55 A A55 A A55 A A " , "01020400101 11214", " 18FF 1BFF 1810FF 18" , "END"
Curing the One's oval
Give it the right command and the Oric thinks it's in America — and its ovals become true circles.
When I got my Oric I was upset to find that the CIRCLE com¬ mand actually draws ovals, not circles.
But after a few hours of trial and error I’ve found a way round the problem.
I just key in FILL 1 , 1 ,29 and the whole picture on the televi¬ sion screen stretches upwards.
This makes the ovals drawn by the CIRCLE command into real circles.
I think this works because part of the Oric is designed so it can be converted to work with American TV sets as well as British ones.
This is because American televisions use a different sys¬ tem from ours and so need a different signal. Giving the right command makes the Oric think it is in America.
For some reason the mixture of American and British tele¬ vision signals makes the picture stretch. Can anyone explain why this should happen?
Furthermore, this system does not always have the de¬ sired effect.
It works with my television (a Grundig) but it made the pic¬ ture on my friend’s TV go crazy. By adjusting the vertical hold control on the back of her TV we got a normal picture again.
If you switch into the TEXT mode the picture will go back to normal.
It can also be made to do this by keying in the command FILL 1,1,31. The commands can be part of a computer program. Peggy Keenan,
Eastbourne, Sussex.
PCN MAR25. 1983
25
«- *3- ...Cv>cj ^ ^ ^
\o
data-Q//ette
a\ c<=»
4r^
'lllllllfflUSs
SHARP POCKET COMPUTERS
A complete pocket-sized battery powered computer - includes Keyboard, display (does not connect to TV) and memory which retains even while switched off. The ideal FIRST computer which will help you learn Computing ★ BASIC language
• PCI 500: Expandable. Fast . £169.95
• PCI 251: New!! . £79.95
• PCI 21 1: Few Remaining . £59.95
plus £1.50 p & p
^ # -
DATA CASSETTES
High quality. AGFA tape, screw assembled cassettes with library boxes.
Pack of ten including post and packing:
C5 - £5.20 CIO -£5.40 C12-E5.50 Cl 5 - £5.60 C20 - £5.80 C25 - £5.95
Order two packs - Deduct £1
CONNECTING LEADS to your Cassette Recorder
Specify BBC 1 /BBC2/DRAGON . £2
SINCLAIR ADD-ONS
ZX81 16k RAM PACK . £29.50
ZX81 KEYBOARDS Professional . £37.95
ZX81 KEYBOARDS MiniKlik £26.50
Plus £1.50 p & p
ORDER FORM TO: Data-Assette, Dept PCN1. 44 Shroton Street, London NW1 Tel: 01-258 0409
QTY |
ITEM |
PRICE |
PAP |
TOTAL |
i |
||||
| |
=E3
■ Charge my Access/Visa no:j ~| |
Signed _ i
* Name _ ■
Address
I _ 'Z. _ I
C.J.E. QQQ
. SPECIALISTS
microcomputers
VAT included where applicable
QUALITY DISK DRIVES
Single drive 40 track single sided 1 x 1 00k £ 1 80/225
Dual drive 40 track single sided 2 x 1 00k £365.00
Dual drive 80 track double sided 2 x 400k £799.25
All drives are cased with own PSU for reliability, and include connecting cables and utilities disk Delivery £4.00
SOFTWARE FOR THE BBC MICRO
MISSILE CONTROL the first implementation on the
BBC Micro of the popular arcade game (32K) £5.00
MAZE MAN an authentic version of the popular
arcadegame (32K) £6 00
BALLOONS a highly original game that soon becomes
compulsive playing. (32K) £6.00
DISASSEMBLER the memory dump routine includes
a scrolling back in memory facility . ( 1 6K) £5.00
MISSILE CONTROL. MAZE MAN & BALLOONS use the Keyboard or joysticks for control
30+ PROGRAMS FOR THE BBC COMPUTER
This Book contains program listings, with explanations & tips on using the BBC Micro GAMES UTILITIES GRAPHICS A MUSIC Most programs will run on Models A & B Edited by C.J Evans, various Authors A pair of cassettes with all the programs is available BOOK £500
BOOK & CASSETTE SET £9 00
LEADS
The BBC Micro comes without a cassette lead
7PinDinto2 x 3.5mm & 1 x 2.5mm minijacks £4.00
7Pin Din to 5Pin Din & 2. 5mm minijack £4.00
7PinDinto7PinDin £4.00
7Pin Din PLUGS Twofor£0.65
6Pin Din PLUGS (for RGB socket) Two for£0.65
5Pin Din PLUGS (360’ forRS232) Twofor£0.65
RS423 TO RS423 (BBC Micro to BBC Micro) Twometrecable £4 00 Four metre cable £5.00
TELEVISION/MONITOR LEADS full range available
Phono plug to Co-ax with high quality cable 3 metres BNC Plug to BNC Plug
BNC Plug to Phono Plug(i.e BBC Micro to RediffusionTVRM)
RGB 6Pin Din to 6Pin Dm 1 metre £4.00 2metre
£300 £3 10 £2 20 £5 00
PRINTER CABLES
BBC to 36 way Centronics Type connector £17.50
BBC to 25 way D Type (for use with RS232) £9.50
BBC to 40 way edge connector (Centronics 739) £20.00
TORCHto36wayCentronicsTypeconnector £20.00
Blank C15 and C30 Computer Cassettes
Ten for £4.50 any mix
15 Way D type Plug with Cover £2.75
Computer graphics design pads 1 00 sheets £4.00
BBC UPGRADE KITS
RAM UPGRADE (100ns) £23 00
KIT A Printer A l/Q Port £9.50
KIT B Analogue Port £8.00
KITC SerialT/O A RGB £10.00
KIT D Expansion Bus/Tube £8 00
Full Upgrade Kit (Model AtoB) £60 00
6522 VIA (Included in Kit A) £4.50
All components full specification
STAR DP8480 PRINTER From £250.00 Inc VAT
80 CPS 80/96/ 132 COLS
BIDIRECTIONAL LOGIC SEEKING TRACTOR WITH FRICTION FEED
RS232 version £217.39 + £32.61 VAT = £250.00
High Res Graphics option to allow BBC Screen dumps £15.00/£20.00 (24HR SECURICOR DELIVERY FOR PRINTERS £8 00)
VAT Included where applicable
Send SAE for full Pnce List of our large range ofaccessones POSTAGE Add 50pper order or as stated
CL C Dept (PCN), 25 HENRY AVE. RUSTINGTON.
• lJ. W. SUSSEX BN1 6 2PA (09062) 6647
microcomputers
26
PCN MAR 25. 1983
COLECO EXCLUSIVE
A plug-in keyboard would zap-up the new Coleco Vision games unit, says Geof Wheelwright
o ■
When you take the lid off, this games machine looks far more like the computer it really is. The big processing chip near the front is a Z80A and the front interface connects to peripherals — including the soon-to-be-released computer keyboard.
Qwerty versus Donkey Kong
Don’t write off the ColecoVision video games system just because you want a programmable computer. That may have been the rule in the past, but this machine will sport a plug-in keyboard — one day.
At £130 the Coleco machine is a computer in video game clothing. CBS Electronics and Ideal Toys are due to launch it in June.
The vital clue is on the front of the machine — hiding just below the game cartridge socket is an innocent-looking expansion interface. This is where you can plug in a computer keyboard.
There's no estimated price on the keyboard yet, but Ideal spokesman Richard Ault promises it will cost less than the games unit itself.
Electronics companies used to wean you onto the harder stuff — real home computers — by getting you to buy a games machine first. But now even the games machine companies are realising that more and more people are ready for the hard stuff, and can’t get it fast enough.
ColecoVision was released in North America last year, aimed at the Mattel and Atari video games market. But CBS and Ideal realise that it just isn’t on to bring out a non-programmable machine in the UK.
Despite this reasoning the keyboard will not be available for the ColecoVision launch . This means it will not be possible to access the machine’s computer capabilities immediately. The machine tested played games wonderfully and featured sophisti¬ cated high-resolution graphics. But when struck with the programmer’s natural itch to create, I could do nothing with it.
Mr Ault concedes that the success or failure of the machine in this country will depend on the arrival of the keyboard. He vows that it will be on sale by autumn.
He seems to shudder at the mention of Mattel's long-standing — and unfulfilled — promise to supply a computer keyboard for the Intellivision games machine and swears Ideal will not ‘do a Mattel'.
But the ColecoVision promotional material currently available seems to make the same kind of vague keyboard promises that characterised Mattel’s no-show.
One example of this is that, although the other plug-ins for the Coleco are well- documented. there is not even a mock-up of the computer keyboard in company promotional brochures.
So until that keyboard turns up you'll have to be content with £20 CBS Electronic games cartridges.
The game supplied with our machine was Donkey Kong, a licensed version of the popular arcade game of the same name . CBS Electronics has the market cornered on this cartridge, and sells the same game for both the Mattel Intellivision system and the Atari VCS. Coleco’s version of the
game seems better than the ones im¬ plemented on Atari and Mattel machines.
Even without a keyboard the Coleco Vision can be credited with a good deal of ingenuity in design. Like any good compu¬ ter, it’s adaptable and expandable — even using it as a games machine.
But software availability is the key to success, and Coleco's designers have developed a highly versatile expansion module interface on the front of the machine. Plug-in modules allow the machine to play all the games cartridges currently available for both Atari and Intellivision machines.
You will also be able to plug in the computer keyboard and a ‘Turbo Drive’ module to the interface. The turbo drive module wasn’t available for our test, but looks like good fun. You plug the joystick into it to serve as a gearshift, and use the wheel and foot-pedal provided to drive down the on-screen highway generated by the computer.
We thought the hand-controllers were a nice compromise between the limiting Atari joystick and the rather pedestrian Intellivision keypad. The controllers con¬ sist of an eight-directional disc on a stick — a sort of upside-down joystick — at the top, two independently controlled fire buttons at the side, and a 1 2-key numeric pad which can handle the overlays needed for Intellivision games.
As a pure games machine, it’s unlikely you will find anything in the £130 price- range to touch the Coleco machine's quality graphics and playability. And if you want something that can turn into a computer when you’re tired of either buying or playing games, keep the Coleco in mind.
We wouldn’t advise buying the Coleco machine on the assumption that you’ll soon be able to use it as a computer, but you can draw that conclusion if Coleco meets its summer deadline for release of the keyboard in the US.
PCN MAR 25. 1983
27
Ko-Kon Chung
MORE IDEAS THA MORE PROGRAMS THA
LESS MONEY THA
PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION, HOME, BUSINESS, AND GAMES - FOR SINCLAIR, BBC, RESEARCH MACHINES, APPLE, COMMODORE, ACT SIRIUS, TRS-80, IBM, ICL, and more each month. . .
HO^H^OONfMOOSfftWCEW^K? Most micros connect by a standard DIN plug and coaxial cable to an adaptor.
They're portable, so you con use the system wherever you put your computer and telephone.
MKRONET
ADAPTOR
Simply dial Micronet's number and enter your subscriber number into the keyboard. A 'welcome to Micronet' message appears on the screen.
You're on-line to one of the world's largest databases.
PRESTEL
MICRONET 800s
thousandsof ideas — packed pages - games, education, business software, club news and information.
When you have all the information you need - or you've finished 'downloading' software to your computer's memory - just switch off the telephone link at your keyboard and replace the receiver.
28
PCN MAR 25, 1983
N A THINK-TANK .
N A SOFTWARE HOUSE. N YOU'D EXPECT.
Whether you bought your computer for games, business, or education, you can spend a lot of time wondering what to do with it. And then spend a lot of money on packaged games and applications software.
NOW you can bring your computer to life - economically - by joining the amazing new MICRON ET 800 service: a vast database with hundreds of FREE games, plus business and education software, computer news, special offers and 'big prize' opportunities for you to compete against the system - and win!
MICRON ET 800 is packed with ideas and information. And there's no waiting - you get programs straight down the phone line! Updates on operating systems . . . school and college programs
. . . gobble man . . . invaders . . . business packages. They're constantly renewed.
And hundreds of them are free: you simply turn on your micro, dial up MICRONET 800 and LOAD.
Sounds expensive? Here's the surpris^!
All you pay for is a low-cost adaptor (in most cases just £49) to link your computer to your telephone, plus a MICRONET 800 subscription of about £1 per week. Then, via your computer and telephone line you will be able to access over 30,000 ideas-packed 'pages' of the MICRONET 800 service, and call down the software you want to your own computer! Look at just a FEW of the services already available on Micronet for you to call on:
• Fro# Telwoftware Indexed by subject and by name of micro, a huge slection can be looded down onto your computer.
• Educational Exchong* Library Schools and colleges are already preparing to display programs written by students and teachers, so many can benefit from them easily and economically.
• Applications Guides Quick-reference guide by subject and by micro name shows you available applications software. You can move from the guide to further details held on the system if you wish.
• Demonstrations: Check through the features of the software packages that interest you — privately and without obligation. Order only if you're sure if s what you need.
• Purchase 'Downloadable' Software: Many 'telesoftware' programs can be bought from the system and loaded down direct to your micro. But
don't worry — there's plenty of warning if any MICRONET service you're planning to use carries a charge.
• Electronic Moil A mailbox service on Prestel allows you to exchange messages with other Prestel or Micronet users. Messages are held securely and only you con collect them.
• Bulletin Board: For an additional subscription you can operate your own bulletin board — club news, for example, like tips, swap-shop for second-hand items and so on.
• Phone-In If you're away from your computer but need to send a meassage to another Micronet user — call the Micronet 800 service by phone and we'll send the messoge for you.
• Prestel: Over 200,000 pages of information on British Telecom's established service. Facts and advice on finance, business, entertainment, features
and even direct bookings for travel, holidays, etc.
# Product ond Service Guide: A constantly updated reference source — covering product comparisons, software reviews, dealership and price details and all the 'best bu/ information.
# Action Advertising Includes features, just like a magazine, including jobs and classified ods. If you've read an article that interests you, through MICRONET you can find out about the manufacturer, the dealers, the prices, and even order the product via your micro!
# User Group News: The Amateur Computer Club and many others like ALCC, BASUG, ICPUG, TUG, TRS 80 UG, will maintain their news and reference service on Micronet.
# Big Prize Games: Micronet offers a range of games and quizzes to keep you entertained and involved — and there'll be big prizes too!
SOUNDS FANTASTIC? THAT'S JUST THE START!
MICRONET 800 is a completely new service and we'll be adding to it all the time. Find out more about what Micronet 800 has in store for
mi
IT BRINGS YOUR COMPUTER TO LIFE!
you: return thiscoupon TODAY and we'll send you a FREE FACTS FOLDER on Micronet 800 services and details of how you can join!
Send to: MICRONET 800, Petersham, House, 57a Hatton Garden,
London EC IB IDT. I
O Yes, I am interested in the MICRONET 800 service. Please keep me ■ in touch with developments and send me details of the low-cost •
Micronet 800 adaptor.
□ I am interested in earning money on software I develop for the system. .
I am interested in:
Name _
Add ress _
Home uses □ Business uses □ Educational uses □
Telephone
Type ofcomputer_
PCN MAR25, 1983
29
fast £ctk>n
fantastic colour graphics ancK capabilities. This gahieincliides The UvSual ATLANTIS/StXJAMBU featuras^Guide your submarine Nautilus alohg the undersea
rockets, jelly fish, serpar
Only C7. 50 for MODW.B forA+32K^
rB^mrc i
••• mmm •
« :W — B— i —C— I <
(JHBJHBjiaMBn
IJK
the one to watch
CASSETTE 15 - LEAP FROG
The fabulous ‘frogger’ arcade game reaches the BBC micro. Superbly written full colour machine code version for the Model B (or A+32K). Help the frog cross the road avoiding the vehicles travelling at different speeds, and cross the multi current river to reach the safety of the lllly pads. The game gets progressively harder - perfect for arcade addicts Only C7.50 for MODEL B (or A
MODEL A/B
Cassette 1 : Star Trek/Candy Floss (very popular) C6.50 Cassette 2: Family Games (hours of fun) £4.50
Cassette 3: Mutant Invaders/ Breakout £6.50 ^
Cassette 8: Model A Invaders (M/C)
£5.50
MODEL B (or A+32K)
Cassette 4: Beep-Beep (Super Simon Game) £4.50 Cassette 5: Beebmunch (full colour Munchman) £6.50 Cassette 6: Super Hangman (animated, educational) £4.50 Cassette 7: 3D Maze (fast and intricate) £4.50
CASSETTE 0
MODEL B Invaders (or A+32K) (M/C) £7.50
CASSETTE 10
WORDPRO. (Cassette W.P. system). £10.50 CASSETTE 12
FLAGS. (Countries and Capitals). £4.50
CASSETTE 13
HYPERDRIVE (M/C arcade). Destroy the Drone aliens in the caverns with your laser tank. £6.50 CASSETTE 14
STRATOBOMBER (M/C arcade). Keep the enemy fleet at bay in order to destroy the rogue star ships nuclear reactor. £7.50
LULU
min i
• All Programs will run on all operating systems
• All software in stock before we advertise
• Send SAE for Brochure
BBC
MICRO
GAMES
nun
ffi 1 1 rr
PSION Vs CP I
‘Lucky’ Geof Wheelwright loses his reputation on the gaming board to a brace of programs
Backgammon
Backgammon is a far cry from the usual run of zap and splat games for the Sinclair Spectrum.
But now two versions of the age-old Lebanese game are available on cassette. The first, from CP Software, has been out for some time and the second, from Psion Software, is due to be released in two weeks. I compared the CP game with an exclusive pre-release copy of Psion’s implementation.
The CP game is a fairly straightforward, no-frills presentation, but Psion's features three-dimensional dice, friendly chat, and strategically placed bells and whistles.
Psion’s game
It started ominously; I knew I was in trouble when the game took five minutes to LOAD. Then I was asked which level of play I wanted — there are four — and whether I wanted to roll my own dice.
Being a bit of a coward I chose level one , the easiest, and trusted the computer with the dice. I plugged on in the hope that I could thrash the Psion program at its own game.
I hoped in vain — every time I made a play to take one of the program’s stones it would quickly protect them. Even when I offered a stone in sacrifice, in order to get the Psion game to leave one of its stones unprotected, it wasn’t interested.
By playing this conservative game, the Psion program was soon bearing off, while I struggled to get the last of my men off the bar and into my inner table. I was practically gammoned, and the Psion program won easily.
I was glad I hadn't put any money on the game.
I went on to greater things, losing spectacularly to level three. I’d accepted the doubling of stakes, secure in the knowledge that the Spectrum has no pocket-searching peripheral.
My excuse is that I was dazzled by the Psion program’s graphics and was there¬ fore incapable of thinking straight. The game starts by drawing a nice black and white backgammon board with blue and red stones, then the dice come rolling out — in simulated 3-D.
CP’s version
I had no such excuse for losing to the CP Software program. CP backgammon is more of a rough and tumble affair, playing aggressively and expecting you to put up a fight.
I did manage to capture some of the game's stones — but it managed to take twice as many of mine.
There were no nice graphics to distract .me this time. The screen display is utilitarian, employing a red and yellow board with black and white stones. The
dice don’t move, and are ‘thrown’ by means of the spots changing when you hit Enter.
The animation that moves your stones is also inferior on CP’s implementation. Unlike the Psion game, where you actually see the stones moving from place to place on screen, the CP version just flashes the piece that’s about to move. It then magically teleports it to its new position where it reappears about four seconds later (a full second slower than the Psion game).
One redeeming quality of CP’s other¬ wise lacklustre program is its on-screen documentation of moves. Every time you make a move a code representation is shown on screen (eg it shows f-4 when you move the stone at position / four points closer to your inner table).
CP also scores a few brownie points for on-screen documentation before the game, and there are several paragraphs explaining the workings of backgammon before the dice are thrown. It’s a shame that thoroughness of documentation did not carry over to the information on the cassette sleeve.
The paper documentation amounts to a brief summary of how to LOAD a program, and then a precis of the Interna¬ tional Backgammon Association's rules
PROGRAM A CP Software
oooo
boo-
Welcome to the PCN inner table, where we test two competing Backgammon games for the Spectrum.
The Psion game’s response time seems quicker than it actually is, because the stones move across the screen — but it was still a full second faster than the CP’s teleport-style moves.
Moving stones and tumbling dice also give Psion a higher rating for graphics — it doesn’t alter the game, but I was getting more for my money.
Psion’s Challenge rating is also higher, because of the conservative
for the game. There are more instructions on the back of the cassette sleeve , but again they concentrate on how to play backgam¬ mon rather than on how to unlock the secrets of CP’s version.
Only about one-third of the Psion documentation discusses how to play backgammon — the rest highlights all the bells and whistles that make its game unique.
Verdict
Psion’s game also gives new meaning to the phrase ‘user-friendly’. It offers you hints on what moves to make if you get stuck, although I have a suspicion the machine is cheating.
If you want a game that puts up a good fight , and caters more for the backgammon novice than the aspiring champion, CP's version might be the one.
But if you want a backgammon program that takes you from an easy level to a very difficult one, all the while offering hints and invitations to gamble, you should opt for the Psion game.
This does seem to come closer to the spirit of most backgammon games I’ve seen played.
Both games cost £5.95, so your choice depends on your playing philosophy.
PROGRAM B Psion
game it plays. And if a novice like me can take stones from the CP game without too much trouble, then a more advanced player should be able to beat it. CP also scored low because it has only one level of play, while Psion has four. The fifth test was purely subjective, but I felt that the CP dice were less random than Psion’s — somehow, CP always seemed to get the moves it needed to steal my stones — who me, paranoid?
I’ve covered documentation in the text, but it’s worth saying that CP could have given more information about what’s special about their program . GW
PCN MAR25. 1983
31
NURSERY END
What kind of micro toys are kids laying their hands on these days? Deenagh Brook reports
Catching the Toy Town bus
End users are getting younger and younger. Not only do we have children of eight and upwards who are mastering the mysteries of Basic at school on their BBCs and Apples, but even the toddlers are beginning to wriggle in on the act.
There are two ways to help foster young enthusiasm . The first involves embracing a new philosophy in teaching children about computers, while the second makes use of popular micros to introduce the tots to computing.
The premise behind the first is that children between the ages of three and eight are too young to appreciate or learn anything from ‘adult' computers such as the Sinclair ZX81 or the Apple.
Instead, you are encouraged to buy any one of a number of new computers being designed specially for nursery school age. These machines are supposed to be to computer age kids what cloth books and flash-cards were to the generations before them.
For some time computerised games such as the Little Professor and Big Track have been available. These have been a great success and smaller children are rapidly taking for granted these sophisticated games.
And indeed, these toys have helped considerably in teaching young children the mechanics of data entry and com¬ munication with an electronic toy. For example, with Big Track you make a tank-like vehicle move exactly where vou
want by giving it logical, step-by-step instructions, pressing the appropriate direction indicators followed by a number which represents the distance to be travelled.
Talking computer
The latest amusement for the three-to- nine age group is a talking computer produced by a company called Electro- play. The machine looks like a quality toy, durable and tough , about 1 2in square , with a carrying handle to make it portable for a small child.
But although it looks like and has the appeal of a toy, it is in fact a sophisticated computer and is designed specially for small children.
The heart of the design is a touch- sensitive pad which takes a large selection of overlays. These vary from the simple display of numbers and fishes , to one with a jumble of words. All are very brightly coloured and clearly marked. Each has an ON and GO button and some have an extra game facility.
After pressing ON the child is welcomed by a female voice, and vocal instructions and encouragements follow.
At first the voice seems difficult to hear, but after a while the ‘voice on a chip’ really does become soothing and much clearer as the ear adjusts to the pitch.
In ON mode , when the child touches one of the objects (numbers or words) the computer responds with the spoken name of the object. In GO mode, the voice asks
you to touch a particular image or word.
If the answer is correct the machine responds with ‘Yes, that's right,’ with an encouraging lift to the voice at the end. If, on the other hand , the answer is wrong, the voice is not discouraging. It merely points out the mistake and patiently asks the child to try again.
In the game mode, the child has to perform a task, often at speed, but the computer adapts itself to the speed of response and announces the marks at the end.
Progress
In the maths programs, the system monitors progress during five turns, and if four out of five sums are correct the complexity is increased. However, if the child makes several mistakes, the prob-
32
PCN MAR 25, 1983
NURSERY END
some adults too) to be less fearful of computers.
Another vocal computerised toy, also by Electroplay is called Pass Me . ather like a space ship with six coloured arms, each with a number at the end. You would be forgiven for thinking it is just another version of that old favourite . Simon. But it isn’t.
Pass Me is described as a sociable game. There are seven games in it, with six levels of skill in each. These test memory and reaction.
It can even trick you by calling out numbers different from those printed on the arms, and you are supposed to grab the correct arm.
This time the voice is male and quite commanding, which all adds to the confu¬ sion. Pass Me tests different aspects of memory and learning from those games which rely on visual aids alone.
lems become easier so the child’s interest is retained.
As you would expect, the Talking Computer also has a talking clock.
It works on the same principle as the other programs. The child can place the hours and minute hands and learn from the voice what time it is, and then have a little rest with encourgaging remarks thrown in.
The Talking Computer comes with 21 different programs. It is expandable too, with a slot for a program cartridge incorporated into the machine.
Electroplay is working on language cartridges and more programs on sentence construction.
All in all, this computer for small children is impressive and well thought out and certainly encourages children (and
Useful work
But there is a body of opinion which believes that giving children computer toys trivialises the subject and postpones the time when they learn to do useful work on a real micro.
The second way to help children into the computing field means starting them with something as simple as learning the alphabet on a computer’s qwerty keyboard.
Once they know the letters, and how to spell their names, the youngsters can get started on simple programming.
For example:
10 PRINT “MY NAME IS CHRIS’’
20 GOTO 10
would print the name down the screen and teach the child, in two very simple lines, quite a lot about programming.
There is much in computer languages that is so logical and straightforward that it might be a shame not to introduce the child to it at an early age.
By using a real computer you could teach the child a lot about computing without limiting yourself to the program cartridges produced by the toy manufacturers.
Maths on a micro
For example, teaching maths on a micro involves the child in both arithmetic and programming. The sum 2*3/6 would not produce the expected result unless the child remembered to use the proper PRINT 2*3/6.
The flexibility of the computer also offers facilities to keep the child’s interest
with sound, graphics, attractive screen layouts, and to personalise programs with the use of names and familiar places.
If you are a particularly enterprising programmer, you could design simulations which take your child through traumatic experiences such as crossing a road or taking the bus alone for the first time. Obviously the graphic-type simulations are easiest for the child to understand, but they are also the most difficult to write.
An easier route to take, although one not open to you unless your child has learned to read yet, is a question-and- answer-type program. If done creatively, this kind of program could take the form of an adventure game.
You could ask something like ‘You are at the corner of a street, there is a zebra crossing in front of you. The light is green but the Walk signal has not yet been given. What do you do?’ At this point you will have your program set to look for a certain character string: preferably one that en¬ sures the child doesn't cross until the Walk signal is given.
You might combine this quiz-type simulation with a game. If you have designed a simple game your child enjoys playing, you could have a simple sub¬ routine that allowed the child to play that game every time he or she got a good score on your educational quiz.
Lid off
Another aspect of micro education is the actual physical design of the machine. Provided your child doesn’t get too ‘handsy’, don't be afraid to take the top off your machine and explain to the child how everything inside the machine works. If you don't know yourself, this might be a good opportunity to find out (although you should never take the top off if its likely to void your machine's warranty).
When you feel the child knows enough about the machine — and very often it doesn’t take long before they know more about them than you — give them the machine’s user manual, their own disk or cassette and tell them to go to it. You'll soon find they’ll be coming back with questions about problems you never knew you could have with your machine.
Whichever route you choose — real micro or computer toy — will depend on your bank balance, your programming skills, and the individual child.
But if you choose micros remember the risk. It is embarrassing to have six-year- olds correcting your programs.
PCN MAR25.1983
33
1
The Ultimate CBM' Wbnd Processor
A Commodore enthusiast wanted a word processor that was simple, fast and easy to use. He wanted to handle up to 20,000 characters of text, to use a wide screen format of up to 240 characters, with full window scrolling in all directions, and be able to use the screen while printing. He wanted a word processor at a reasonable price. The enthusiast, Simon Tranmer, couldn't find one... so he wrote
Superscript does everything he wanted... and much more. It provides a complete document preparation and storage system, making optimum use of memory and disk space. It gives full access to all the letter quality printer features, such as boldface and ribbon colour change. In short, It provides all of the advantages of a dedicated professional word processor.
is easy to instal, because there's nothing to install Just load the Superscript diskette, and your PET becomes a world quality word processor. Superscript runs on the CBM 2001, 3016, 3032, 4016, 4032, 8032 and 8096 computers, on the CBM 2040, 3040, 4040, 8250 and 8050 disk drives, all Commodore printers, and on a wide range of letter quality printers.
does everything Commodore wanted... »hich is why they are adopting it for all of their forthcoming models. And finally, the magic ingredient...
a 30,000 word disk-dictionary with automatic spelling (tiecker, that will verify the largest Superscript (or Wordpro) document in under two minutes... and you can easily modify the dictionary, or add your own words.
Superscript and SuparSpall are Just two of our fine Coaaodore products... please phone or write for our free comprehensive data sheets on any of the products listed below*
Superscript The Ultimate CBM eorprocessor . *249.00
SUPERSPELL 01 sk 01c 1 1 oner y/Spe 1 1 lng Checker . *150.00
SUPERSCRIPT Educational Price (Send Official Order) *50.00
MASTER erlte your own database . *295.00
PM96 Meaory Management ♦ Extra Basic for CBm 0096... *99.50
kram Keyed Disk Access (state which disk) . *99.50
COMMANO-O (for Basic IV. state which Pet) . *59.95
0ISK-0-PR0 Adds Basic IV to Basic II, to clear . *29.95
SPACEMAKER 4 -Roe adaptor (not for 0096) . *34.95
VIS1CALC 32K/96K RRP *200.00, our price . *160.00
ORDERING IMfORMATIOMi Add 15S VAT to quoted prices. Order by post/lelephone/Prestel , using cheque, Access, Barclay Card or Official Order. Telephone (01) 546-7256 for saee-day service, for over-the-counter sales, see your CBm Oealer. (Ref All)
Cakco Software
LAKESIDE MOOSE, KINGSTON HILL, SURREY, KT2 7QT. TEL 01-546-7256
“This is the bit where he gives it all ten fingers!’ *
Is your high-performance computer let down by your low-perform¬ ance fingers? Touch ‘ri Go will change all that In just 24 hours you can master the computer's QWERTY keyboard and its numeric keypad Foraet boring drills and meaningless hieroglyphics. Touch n' Go introduces real words and phrases at the earliest possible moment The computer gives you instant feedback on your performance and can even store the results for posterity By the end of the course you should be capable of 40 words per minute
Why use two fingers when you have ten?
Touch n' Go is available from computer dealers and direct from Caxton for only £25 plus VAT It is available in popular CP/M and MSDOS formats Please add £1 p&p when ordering direct
C Ajrtop Software Ltd . D 14 Bedford Street Covent Garden London WC2E 9HE
viaxton
special
OFFER' Deduct £1 per cassette or dltc when ordering 2 or more
FOR THE
QUALITY HlfTirri SOFTWARE LzJ UJ LD _ MICRO
ROAD RUNNER (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
The only full feature machine -code verson of the arcade game available tor the B B C micro Features include scrolling screen, radar display, checkpoint flags, fuel gauge. smoKe screens. 6 skill levels, rankings, increasing difficulty and sound effects GALAXIANS (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Fast action version of the popular arcade game 4 types of Galaxian (in 3 initial screen formations) swoop down individually or in groups of two or three 6 skill levels, hi-score. rankings, bonus laser bases, increasing difficulty, superb graphics and sound CENTIPEDE (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Incredible arcade type game featuring mushrooms, flies, snails, spiders, and the centipedes of course Excellent graphics and sound 6 skill levels, hi-score. rankings, bonuses, and increasing difficulty as the spiders become more active and the mushrooms increase
FRUIT MACHINE (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Probably the best fruit machine mpiementation on the markets This program has it all HOLD. NUDGE. GAMBLE, moving reels, realistic fruits and sound effects, multiple winning lines This is THE fruit machine program to buy ALIEN DROPOUT (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Based upon the arcade game of ZYGON. but our version improves upon the original arcade game itself You have to shoot the aliens out of their "boxes" before the "boxes' fill up Once full, the aliens fly down relentlessly, exploding as they hit the ground Suitable tor use with keyboard or joystick INVADERS (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Superior version of the okj classic arcade game including a few extras 48 marching invaders drop ^ombs that erode your defences, and 2 types of spaceship fly over releasing large bombs that penetrate through your defences Hi-score. increasing difficulty, superb sound effects and graphics SPACE FIGHTER (32K) £6.50 Cassette/£9.90 Disc
Arcade- style game based upon features from DEFENDER and SCRAMBLE 5 types of menacing alien fire at you and may attempt to ram you Separate attack phases, fuel dumps, asteroids, repeating laser cannon, smart bombs, hi-score. rankings. 6 skill levels, bonuses
* WE PAY 25% ROYALTIES FOR HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS *
Please add 50p per order for p&p ^ V.A.T. at 15%
Dealer enquiries welcome
SUPERIOR SOFTWARE Dept. PCNi 69 Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds.
Tel: 0532 842714
PCN MAR25, 1983
PCN PRO TEST
SOFTWARE
Pete Galliard tallies the Spectrum-based Spreadsheet package against VisiCalc and Supercalc
Crash course in
spreadsheets
Microl’s spreadsheet package for the Sinclair Spectrum is cheap, especially compared to VisiCalc and Supercalc — its big brothers on the bigger micros. And since the Spectrum is so portable, it's practical to carry it around in your briefcase to the office, home or a hotel, and just plug into a TV set.
Features
The Microl Spreadsheet lets you SAVE models you have created along with the program itself. There is a CALCULATE command, which allows recalculation of the whole model. The REPLICATE command allows calculation rules to be reproduced over different parts of the spreadsheet There's also the option to modify those calculation rules, if you need to do so.
You can make changes to format . such as the number of decimal places, and it is possible to alter the widths of columns. Although you can display only four columnsat one time, there is a jump facility to let you move the window to any part of the spreadsheet you wish. You can enter text and numbers into the cells, and all the standard arithmetic rules can be used.
There are also quite a few features not there. You cannot:-
# split the screen to give two independent windows on the spreadsheet;
# overlay data from one spreadsheet to another;
• move, insert or delete specific columns or rows;
• search for a particular number;
• protect particular cells from accidental changes or sabotage.
Presentation
The package comes on cassette , along with a simple 15-page manual. Microl says the manual is being updated to include extra information on how to design effective models.
Getting started
It takes about three minutes to LOAD the package from cassette. SAVEing and re-LOADing each model takes about the same time.
If you're new to spreadsheets, expect to spend an hour or two learning how to use them. The knack is fairly easy to pick up, especially if you are used to playing with numbers. The layout itself is identical to that used in larger spreadsheets.
The commands are easy to use — they are simple, reasonably memorable, and consist of single-letter or single key
commands. Most are the initial letterof the action you wish to perform, and all are set out in a single long list in the manual.
One of the most annoying problems with this package is the extremely slow response when moving beyond the limit of the window. Program crashes are also fre¬ quent and easy to cause.
There are no DELETE. INSERT and MOVE commands, and this reduces the package's scope. Aligning numbers with decimal positions is also a problem.
I used the package to build a budget model for testing, and I found that when I entered a whole number of pounds, with zero pence, the layout ended up looking confusing. The program right-justified it so that the pounds ended up in the pence column. You would have to define a different local format to cope with those cells affected.
If you want good-looking reports on your screen, you will need to spend a good deal of time formatting it. But if you can tolerate truncated titles and headings, and just focus on the numbers, the model can be built up quickly.
When the window passes beyond the nearby range of five columns or 20 rows, there is a delay of about ten seconds. I carried out a benchmark test by building a model of 26 columns and 3 1 rows and filling the whole matrix to capacity with numbers
seven digits long. When the matrix was recalculated I found it took six minutes to complete. I tried recalculations with de¬ cimal numbers and text information, and got similar results.
The size of the model you can create is limited. The package comes set up with a default model size of 26 columns and 31 rows. The maximum number of columns remains 26, but you can extend the number of rows to 99, if memory space allows.
This package's reaction to virtually every misdemeanour is to crash. It crashes if you use invalid expressions or command Keys, long calculation rules, and if you reach the limit of memory size . Recovery is pretty straightforward and the data is not lost as all that happens is it dives into Spectrum Basic. But program crashes resulting from typing errors are irritating.
Verdict
Overall, I found this product fair value for money. I had to fault it on reliability, and the performance really was too slow on larger models and when the window was moved, not surprisingly since the package is written in Basic. If you have a Spectrum and are prepared to live with those weaknesses, you will probably find plenty of uses for Spreadsheet.
RATING
Features — B B H Documentation — B Performance — BB Usability- BBB Reliability — BB Overall value — BBB
Name The Spreadsheet Application Spreadsheet System ZX Spectrum, 48K Price £9.95 Publisher Microl, 0223-312453 Format Cassette Lanfuafe Basic Outlets Mail order. Boots, major department stores
PCN MAR25. 1983
Kicrcn Phelps
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CASH BOOKS ACCOUNTS
PROGRAM FOR
BBC MICRO . . .£95.00
One of the most innovative business programs on the market. Most serious accountancy packages are written and coded by professional and competent programmers. The Gemini Cashbook Accounting program was written by practising Chartered Accountants and coded by professional and competent programmers. This is a fundamental difference.
This practical program is simple to use and will replace your manual cash and bank records and by giving you instant management information, it may even put your accountant out of job!
With exceptionally exhaustive user documentation, full technical back up and product update policy this program will increase the efficiency and profitability of your business. Take a look at the information this program will provide.
SPREADSHEET ANALYSIS BEEBCALC £19.95 DRAGONCALC £19.95
FOR BBC AND DRAGON 39. Spreadsheet processors have proved to be important tools for using micros in business, scientific and domestic financial applications.
Without any programming knowledge at all, you may:-
* Set up a computerised spreadsheet, with chosen row and column names.
* Specify formulae relating any row or column to any other
* Enter your source data and have the results calculated
* Save the results on tape (or disk - BBC) for later reloading and manipulation
* Print the tabulated results in an elegant report format.
* Experienced users may access saved files and write their own reporting or graphics presentation programs for the results.
Some typical applications:-
* Small business accounting applications, e g profit and loss statements and cashflow projections, break even analyses etc.
* Investment project appraisal - anything from double glazing to oil rigs!
* Comparing rent/lease/buy options
* Processing the results of scientific experiments or field studies
* Engineering calculation models
* In fact, anything that involves repeated re -calculation of results presented in tabular or spreadsheet format.
VAT returns ♦ cumulative receipts and payments report analysed over the standard profit and loss and balance sheet heading. ♦ option for departmental analysis of sales and purchases ♦ print out of all transactions ♦ journal routine for entering transfers between accounts and year end adjustment for debtors, creditors etc. ♦ year end trial balance ♦ profit and loss account and balance sheet. These statements can be produced at what ever interval you require e g. monthly, quarterly or annually. Coming soon:- Integrated Sales + Purchase Ledgers |
DM. |
Stock Control |
MOM |
imocnt Statement* |
Spread #w«t |
(MAOOC* Atcotmtmq |
Word protestor |
Home Accotmts |
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". . . the systems worked immaculately when tested . . .' ‘Maiiist is a very professional piece of software . . .' CWhich Micro A Software Review Fet> 83) |
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MCmcro A or B 39* |
I S NEW CE SOFTWARE
ir business at petty cash prices.
W.
INVOICES AND STATEMENTS . . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. Sec table. Ideal for the small business. A complete suite of programs together with generated customer file for producing crisp and efficient business invoices and monthly statements on your line printer. All calculations include VAT automatically, and the program allows your own messages on the form produced. This program gives you superb presentation and saves time on one of the most tedious tasks in the office.
COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS . . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. See table. A gem of a program, all for cassette, with the following features:- Daily Journal. Credit Sales. Cash Sales. Credit Purchases. Purchases - other. Sales Ledger Purchase Ledger. Bank Account. Year to date summary. A fully interactive program suitable for all businesses. Files can be saved and loaded and totals from one file carried forward to another on cassette. Particularly useful from a cash flow point of view, with an immediate accessibility to totals for debtors and creditors. Bank totally supported with entries for cheque numbers, credits and, of course, running balance.
MAILING UST . . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. See table. A superb dedicated database to allow for manipulations of names and addresses and other data. Gemini’s unique 'searchkey' system gives you a further ten user-defined parameters’ to make your own selections. Features include the facility to find a name or detail when only part of the detail is known, it will print labels in a variety of user specified formats.
Dealer/Trade enquiries invited — generous trade discounts for quantity Special ACCESS card instant sales hotline A1QRO
for GUARANTEED despatch within 24 hours . . . HSI ♦ W7JA I We#
24 hr Ansaphone Service.
All enquiries other than credit card sales to 03952-5832
Gemini. Functional Software Specialists. 9, Salterton Road, Exmouth, Devon.
DATABASE . . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. See table. The program that everyone needs, the most valuable and versatile in your collection. Facilities include sort search, list print if required Can be used in place of any card index application, once purchased you can write your own dedicated database to suit your particular needs with a limitless number of entries on separate cassettes
STOCK CONTROL • . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. See table. Dedicated software with all that’s necessary to keep control of stock. This program will take the tedium out of stock control and save time and money. Routines include stock set up, user reference number, minimum stock level, financial summary, line print records, quick stock summary, add stock, delete/change record and more
HOME ACCOUNTS . . . £19.95
pBf*® Compatible with most micros. See table. Runs a complete home finance package for you with every facility necessary for keeping a track of regular and other expenses, bank account mortgage, H.P. etc. This program also allows you to plot graphically by Listograms your monthly outgoings.
WORD PROCESSOR . . . £19.95
Compatible with most micros. See tabie. This program features routines found in much larger and more expensive packages with a typical word length of 5-6 letters it allows for around 1000 words in memory at one time Ideal for the user who requires a simple program to write letters on his computer Features include, block delete, block insert, search and replace, edit text, display text and more.
i
Tick the box for Program you require Prices include VAT and Package and Postage Please supply the following cassette software
Database . . £1995 □ ZX81 16K Database -
Stock Control - £19.95 □ BBC Cash Book <** on** -
(Willing lhe - ....... - - - - |
£1995 □ Osborne Disk Database _ _ |
_ £23.95 □ |
invmco w iu juacimci . . Commercial Accounts - |
. £19 95 □ Word processor . |
. £19.95 D no qc n |
Home Accounts . Nmm |
. . £19.95 □ Beebcalc - Dragoncalc - |
£19.95 □ |
Adrlracc 1 |
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Mnrhin* Tvne |
Memory Size |
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1 rrvlrn/ _ _ _ _ _ _ m |
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Make cheques and postal orders payable to Gemini Marketing Ltd. |
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Diners Card Number |
_ Access Number |
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%#W(UI Signature _ _ _
Gemini. Functional Software Specialists, 9 Salterton Road, Exmouth, Devon
f
PCN PRO TEST
SOFTWARE
Axes, textures and colours are plottingto boost the IBM’s graphics. Mike Whitney investigates _
Easy as pie? Not quite
The IBM PC's graphics capabilities are superb — once you’ve slotted in the necessary hardware extras. A small selection of software packages have be¬ come available for this micro in response to the growing awareness of the potential of graphics in the office and lab. Numeric values can be worked up into the much more accessible form of line-graphs, bar-charts and pie-charts, displayed in colour.
The Chartman system is one of these packages. It comes in three models, I, II and III. I reviewed Chartman II, which seems the most flexible in terms of the peripherals it supports. It is fairly complex, and from its documentation appears to be aimed chiefly at the graphicsdepartment of largish firms.
You can attach one of three different
colour plotters or three dot-matrix printers with graphics option. The plotters will give the best quality hard-copy output.
Features
For line-graphs and bar-charts you can specify headings, axis ranges and line-type or bar-colour and texture, and whether grids are required. You can also specify axis labels, and supply up to three lines of footnotes.
Up to six separate lines can be presented on a line graph, each in its own colour. Lines can be continuous or in various kinds of pecked format. Two y-axes can be specified, with different ranges — one on each side — and you can choose linear or log scale for any or all of the axes.
Up to 60 points can be specified for each line — enough for business applications.
The log-scale option for the axes is not available for bar-charts and you can only have a single y-axis. You can display the bars in simple format; stacked format for two or more sets, where you want to place the bars for separate sets above one another; and bunched for two or more sets, to display the items for each x-axis point side-by-side.
You can choose from a range of three colours and six textures for each set of points. Up to six sets of data can be displayed simultaneously, but this limits the number of points that can be displayed
in the chart. The charts can be displayed in one of six formats, including horizontal, vertical and ‘three-dimensional’.
Pie charts can be labelled with percen¬ tage or absolute values. You can also highlight one or more slices, specify the colour and texture of each slice, and have the pie shown in 3D.
Presentation
Chartman comes with a loose-leaf manual, in a box matching standard IBM format. Three diskettes containing the programs for producing line graphs, bar-charts and pie-charts are included. The manual has about 140 pages of text, and contains numerous photographs of screens and charts. But it is long-winded in parts, and the information isgiven in a peculiar order.
Getting started
I met some problems at first. The system stopped dead on two occasions, refusing to respond to any keypress. The message SYSTEM ERROR ENCOUNTERED — PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE’ came up once, the system again refusing to respond to any keypress.
On some of these occasions the data entered into the system was lost. I couldn't reproduce the errors, so could not pinpoint the circumstances.
I also had problems entering data, but Bonsai — which had supplied the review copy — solved this problem. Two of the three system disks supplied were confi¬ gured for a colour monitor, and I was using monochrome.
Chartman is controlled by using the IBM's ten function keys to select menu options. I would prefer to be able to flick down the menu with the space-bar and then press ‘Enter’. Things are made worse by the slowness of the system's responses — the message ‘“PLEASE WAIT**’ is frequently on the screen for long periods.
The programs are written in IBM's Basic, which is notoriously slow, but Bonsai says they will be issued later in compiled form.
The chart options provided everything that could reasonably be wanted. The screen display of the finished chart was excellent, with one reservation. The re¬ solution of the graphics screen on the IBM is lower than that of the test screen, so the text in the charts is poorly-formed.
This is acceptable for letters, but the numeric characters were difficult to read. Fortunately, the plotter printouts, far from suffering this disadvantage, are superb. The charts can be plotted onto transparent paper for projection, or on plain paper.
The normal output will be scaled to the maximum size of the plotter paper, but you can reduce the scale of the chart by using the plotter hardware options. Thus you can
plot several charts on the same sheet.
There are unnecessary problems in file¬ handling — for example, if Chartman cannot find its system diskette, the SYS-
MARKET NICHE & PR00UCT POSITIONING
•CEO OF LIQUID SOAP IN BAR SOAP DOMINATED MARKET
TEM ERROR’ message comes up, and you have lost your data. It is impossible to use the same data for a different type of chart — you re-enter each separately.
Chartman can read ‘data interchange format' ( DIF) files, such as those produced by VisiCalc and Microplan (but not Supercalc). It also has a nice feature in that a ‘slide presentation’ can be made on the screen, by saving the required selection of charts on the diskette, and building a slide presentation text chart; timing of slide changes can be preset or keypress-driven.
Overview
This package is not too easy to use on an occasional basis, is expensive, and you must buy costly hardware extras to use it fully. It would certainly be worth looking at competing products before deciding.
RATING
Features — 2 BBS Presentation — B B B
Performance — B B B
User interface — B B H B Reliability — BBB Overallvalue — BBBB
TOTAL MEMBER-BANK BORROWINGS FROM THE FEDS
ANNUAL DATA FOR THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF XVZ
Name Chartman II Application Business graphics System I BM personal computer.
128K, single disk drive, colour graphics adaptor, graphics monitor Price £395 Publisher Graphic Software Format Disk Language Basic Other versions C hartman I, monochrome only, £295 Outlets Bonsai. 01-580 0902, mail order or off-the-shelf.
38
PCN MAR25.1983
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With NO computer experience at all you can now have your wall-to-wall filing system on top of your desk.
DATA-PILOT will guide you. create and develop the perfect record-keeping system for YOUR business.
DATA-PILOT will write your program for you and it will look as if you've created it all yourself
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DATA-PILOT originally designed for the Olivetti M20. is also available for other Micros.
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Using the ASG-II a system SPECIFICALLY designed for your business can be developed at a very economical price
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Phone Andy Williams Of post your coupon NOW
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El
Gil Anthony Systems
- MAIL ORDER PRICES -
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SOFTWARE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND IT - SOFTWARE FOR THE IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER -
dBASE II The powerful, easy to use RELATIONAL DATABASE £397.50 including post and packing |
MULTIPLAN From the people who brought you MSDOS Reads Visicalc files £160.50 including post and packing |
VISICALC 256K The classic favourite, freed to use the new larger memories and faster too on new CPUs. £146 50 including post and packing |
dBASE II ADDONS dBASE window. dBPLUS. dUTIL quickcode, dGRAPH and Abstat For prices please call |
MILESTONE Planning and scheduling proiects with up to 200 activities using Critical Path Analysis £33250 including post and packing |
VISI ADDONS Visifile. Visidex. Visischedule. Visitrend/plot, For prices please call. |
WORDSTAR PLUS MAILMERGE For the purist, now kinder on the IBM PC. Sinus andTI PC generation of machines With Mailmerge £251 .50 including post and packing |
VOLKSWRITER Your secretary can use this word processor without a Ph D in Computer Science --- and so can you — £142 50 including post and packing |
SUPERCALC Flexible formatting, windowing and worksheet building provide a powerful tool for planners £1 79.50 including post and packing |
SELECT Menu-driven word processing lor managers, authors and occasional users With tutor. £32950 including post and packing |
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Shepherds. Tydehams, Newbury. Berkshire. RG14 6JT. United Kingdom Newbury (0635) 35831
PCN MAR25, 1983
39
PCN PRO TEST
SOFTWARE
David Janda runs Wordplay, a BBC WP package which finds space for pretty pictures.
Turtle in the text area
Low-cost text processing on the BBC micro is the aim of a new package from Hexadecimal Press. Wordplay is a text formatting program designed to make the preparation of documents easier. The text to he formatted is interspersed with special commands that Wordplay understands, and when the program is run a neatly laid out, paged and justified document is produced on a printer.
The program works on Models A and B , but remember that the larger the document to be formatted, the larger the memory requirement will be. I used Model B with an Epson MX80/FT printer.
Features
The text to be formatted is entered at memory location 3000 hex. Using the Beeb’s existing editing functions, each line of text is preceded by a line number just as in Basic programs. Then the Wordplay commands follow the line number. So to print Hello Mum' in the centre of the page, type:-
10\ceHello Mum
Wordplay will detect the backslash ‘Y, which tells the program that one of its two-letter commands is to follow. The command ‘ce’ , means centre the rest of the text in line 10.
The program recognises 30 commands. These functions range from setting tabs to defining page-lengths. Three of them are \ch,\es and\go. The first two allow the user to send non-printable ASCII charac¬ ters — such as formfeed — to the printer. With\ es, an escape character is sent before an ASCI I character . These two commands let the operator use printers other than the Epson MX80/FT for which Wordplay is designed.
I have not seen the command\go x in any other text editor or word processor. It allows execution of a sub-program at line x . With es, an escape character is sent before an ASCII character. These two commands let the operator use printers other than the Epson MX80/FT for which Wordplay is designed.
I have not seen the command go x in any other text editor or word processor. It allowsexecution of a sub-program at line x. With this facility you can print some text, go to a sub-program which computes, say, the 12 times table, print the results and then continue with the text.
Some extra features would have been useful. In its present form. Wordplay cannot, for example, underline or produce double line/word spacing.
Presentation
Unfortunately not all is roses with Word¬ play. Seven sheets of documentation come with the cassettes and these are repeated on the Wordplay cassette as two ‘pro¬ grams’ named ‘INSTRUCT' and ‘NOTES’. These allow the user to LOAD
120\bt \*kl
130\c* Getting Started with WORDPLAY
140\ce -
ISO \mk 1 \bo \*H !60\oe 1 70\sk2
180(1) To load the program 190\ta LOAD "WORDPLAY"
200\«k2
210(2) To load a text file called TEXT
220\ta (LOAD "TEXT" 3000
230\*k2
240(3) To set up the function keys 2SO\ t a First load WORDPLAY <1>
260REM\ta RUN
270\ta Line length^O <ci
280 \ t a Keys Initialized.
290\sk2
(1) To load the program LOAD "WORDPLAY"
(2) To load a text file called TEXT •LOAD "TEXT" 3000
(3) To set up the function keys First load WORDPLAY (1) RUN
Line length?0 Keys initialized.
Wordplay is this simple — If only you can get it going. Here’s an example to help you.
and LIST them to see what Wordplay commands were needed to make them up.
But the instructions are unclear. Although all the information to get Wordplay up and running is there, it took several readings to understand how to get things going. The information on how to get to the text editing area and back to the program area to run Wordplay is particu¬ larly obscure. A page giving an example of a sample run would have been in order here.
An index of all commands is included in the instructions, together with a graphics dump using the Turtle Graphics proce¬ dure. Another sheet details how Wordplay sets up four function keys of the B BC micro to make text editing easier, and also provides information on parameters.
In use
After reading the documentation several times I loaded the package. Nothing whatsoever happened. Wordplay needs text to act on. I was confused about how to enter new text , as the instructions deal with editing the existing text.
Referring back to the notes I learned that RUNning Wordplay and answering 0 to the question ‘Line length?' defines four function keys. These allow the user to skip from the program area for printing to the text area for editing.
User interface
There are few user friendly messages with Wordplay. When it’s run, all that appears is the logo and the prompt ‘Line length?’ Depending on whether you wish to print text already in the text area or create text, you have a choice . A reply of 0 activates the function keys to create text. Once this has
been done, pressing function key 3 takes you to the text area.
What happened next took me by surprise. The message PAGE=3000: END’ came up, followed on the next line by INVALID PROGRAM?’ In fact, the contents of the function key were being printed on the screen, and the message appeared because the machine couldn't find a program in the text area.
It would have been a simple matter for the author of Wordplay to have incorpo¬ rated some helpful messages, such as ‘You are in the ‘text area', rather than have the other gibberish displayed. In the text area the user is not in the Wordplay environ¬ ment, and Beeb editing facilities apply.
After typing in the text to be formatted, you have to press function key 1 , and RUN has to be typed to get Wordplay going. I found this cumbersome and would have liked to see a few messages telling me what was happening.
After the text has been entered and Wordplay RUN, the line-length of the printer and number of copies required are asked for. Once these are entered a request to turn on the printer is displayed and Wordplay prints out the formatted text.
Reliability
The package is extremely stable in use. Whenever it comes across invalid com¬ mands as n prints the text, the message ‘INVALID COMMAND' appears on the screen — but not on the printer. When replying to requests for line-length and number of copies required , a single copy of the document in the text area is printed out .
Verdict
Wordplay works well, the formatted printout looks good, and learning the commands to format the text is easy enough. Because it uses the Beeb's editing functions you don't have to learn a second set of commands to enter and alter the text .
The lack of messages and poor docu¬ mentation is off-putting, but as these are easily rectified I hope future versions will be better. For £5.75 it is excellent value for money, and together with the Turtle graphics routines this package rivals others at four times the price.
RATING Features —
Documentation —
Performance —
Usability —
Reliability Overall value
i Wordplay Application Text Formatter i BBC Model A or B Prtce £5.75 Hexadecimal Press. 01-368 7561 Format Cas¬ sette Language Basic Otbor versions Acorn Atom £5.50 to be used with Micro-Power ‘Toolbox' Outlets Mail order.
40
PCN MAR25.1983
21 H ANOTHER GREAT GAME FROM MICRODEAL - gr GUARANTEED TO KEEP f YOU PLAYING FOR HOURS \ TRYING TO SAVE THE BEAUTY FROM THE BEAST.
m ROLLING BARRELS! jrlf KILLER FLAMES!
V I LADDERS AND RAMPS % I TO NEGOTIATE IN THE Ifl I BEST GAME EVER FOR 1 THE DRAGON 32 HOME COMPUTER.
FROM TOM MIX
DRAUON
VWNtHS
BARRELS OF
- m«
MANSION
ADVENTIRE 1
PCN PRO TEST |
||||
H |
HARDWARE |
P |
||
Richard King tests a Japanese newcomer and finds it fast, full-featured and built to last |
The VDU tilts and swivels to prevent cricks in the user’s neck.
Toshiba
T100:
heavy
metal
micro
Tbshiba'sTlOO micro is built like a tank. It’s movable, not portable, and is obviously well able to survive quite severe bashings. The casing of the disk unit is painted metal, though, so it’s liable to scratch.
Presentation
The system tested consisted of the central processor, a disk-drive unit, an American- voltage colour monitor and a dot-matrix printer.
Each was packed in a separate box to the normal Japanese standard, and would be satisfactory for shipping. All cables and plugs were included.
Documentation
The documentation consisted of three sets of ring-bound photocopies. The owner's manual presented the most precise step- by-step instructions for assembling the system's components, and an equally precise treatment of trouble-shooting.
Evidently Toshiba intends this system to be sufficiently simple for even the most non-technical of people to assemble, and I feel they’ve succeeded.
It even has a one-page description of each process which the more experienced person would find valuable, though these would have been better grouped together rather than printed separately at the end of each section.
The Basic manual was split into two parts — a description of the Basic and a reference manual for Basic functions.
Both were arranged as alphabetical listings, with syntax diagrams and so on as well as an example of their use.
I can’t help feeling there is a gap between the owner’s manual and the Basic manuals. The former is aimed at the novice, while the latter would be useful only to a fairly fluent person.
Construction
The construction of the main processor unit is remarkable for its robustness. There must be several square feet of sheet metal
inside it, and the circuit-board is sur¬ rounded by sheet steel.
The housing consists of a steel tray which carries the PCB . perforated on the sides for ventilation. The upper half of the casing is plastic, much as usual, except for a small blackish window at the top. which swings backwards to reveal a deep well.
At the bottom of this are two multi-pin sockets, one rather longer than the other. The documentation reveals that these are for the RAM-pack and the ROM-pack, of which more later.
Getting started was simple.
The cables were easy to connect. This disk and printer-cables had bolts at either end which screwed into the associated threaded holes to prevent their weight putting a strain on plugs and sockets.
On throwing the switches, the machine went through a five-second self-test, then booted the disk.
A point that was not obvious until I studied the documentation was the fact that the powerswitches must be thrown in a
particular order, at least as far as the disk-drive and CPU go.
The others don’t matter, but if the disk-drive is not powered when the CPU has finished its self-check, then it assumes you have no disks, uses the built-in version of the Basic and reverts to a tape-based machine.
Keyboard
The keyboard is well-made. It feels solid under the hands, which is not surprising as this also has a steel chassis. There is a normal alpha keyboard which appears to be a sensible compromise between the needs of the real world and the rarified musings of ISO.
On the right is a number-pad, with the cursor-keys clustered in the top right corner and various special keys above. At the left hand end are the green GRAPH and ESCAPE keys, with the eight double-sized function keys in the centre. On the right-hand side is an unlabelled key which appears to be GRAPH-LOCK,
42
PCS MARIS. 1983
Chris Sk’M-nv
PCN PRO TEST
HARDWARE
COPY. LABEL, and BREAK.
Screen
Despite being a 6()Hz monitor, which would have a natural tendency to wobble in a 50Hz country, the display was good and quite sharp for a colour-tube. The max¬ imum resolution obtainable is 64() x 2(X) which is sufficient to display 80 characters.
Lower resolutions of 288 x 192, 160 x 100 and 72 x % are available . The number of characters on the screen can be altered by the WIDTH command. It defaults to 36 when T-BASIC is first called, but may be set to 80.
Graphics characters may be generated either from the keyboard or by the CHR$(n) function. These include solid, dashed and double-line characters for drawing out forms, a complete alphabet of lower-case Greek letters, a selection of upper-case Greek letters as used in mathematics, the four card-suits, and block-graphic characters.
Colours — the usual primaries, secon¬ daries, black and white — were very good, as they should be. Text was readable even at80charactersalineinanycolour.
Storage
Data and program storage is on tape if you have the basic machine, or on the disk unit. This is a large metal box which has its own power-supply and connects with the CPU through a half-inch cable.
The disk drives are standard height, and the kind which rotate constantly. This has always seemed a bad idea to me. Granted, the head is not loaded unless the disk is to be read or written , but even so the disk must be subjected to more wear than is necessary. Certainly it doesn't make them faster, which can be the only possible justification.
Expansion
At the back of the CPU are a number of different connectors. The most impressive is a huge three-row D-connector which carries the disk signals and also serves as the system bus. The printer socket is almost as large , which seems a bit excessive for an ordinary parallel.
The other sockets are mostly DIN- types. connecting to t lings such as the monitor, RS232, tape and LCD display. This was not available for test, but I understand it's a 40 x 8 line 7x9 display, which clips into two small sockets on the back of the plastic housing.
The power socket is a three-pin, as usual. The only other features are the tiny reset button and a very small unlabelled hole with two Molex pins just visible.
Plugging the RAM-pack into the well in the casing gives you a kind of RAM-disk . . a piece of memory which can be read and written as a disk. It looks like a disk to the program, it even has a small NiCad . which makes it almost better than a disk.
The ROM-pack is used for major programs, and Toshiba has plans for dedicated programs. I was told that OA-Basic will be the first program to be sold this way, but unfortunately none were available for this test. There will be a word processor to follow and games car¬ tridges are planned.
Software
The T100 is effectively two machines in one. since it will run CP/M as well as its own Basic-cum-operating system. The former is so well known that I’ll just say it seems to be fairly well implemented, with no obvious snags.
T-Basic, the alternative mode of opera¬ tion, is Microsoft's Basic 5.2, or so close as makes no difference. Basic 5.2 is some¬ times known as Gee-Whizz Basic, since it contains so many commands.
The odd fact is that Basic 5.2 is reputed to run only on a pseudo- 16 such as the I BM , on which it takes up an enormous amount of memory — about 50K. So certain was a colleague that he insisted on having a look inside to check there wasn’t an 8086 there.
The only processors in the T100 are outdated' Z80As, honest. Two of them, to be sure, but only one runs the Basic, the other being concerned with input/output.
I wonder why T-Basic occupies only 32K and will do 10,000 14-digit additions in 40 seconds, when the PC and the rest of that motley crew take 43 seconds?
I’m not especially keen on it : it has rather the same feel as PL/ 1 — too big to be useful . Also, I can't bear Basics which insist on spaces. I know it’s to allow for long variable names, but I don't see why these can't be in lower-case, thus avoiding the clash.
T-Basic will not recognise NEXTN, for example. This will cause an FN error. No. not a function error, that’s FC. This one means FOR without NEXT. It has a little friend, too: NF. That means NEXT without FOR.
Such clear, useful messages make T- Basic a real swine to work with , quite apart from the fact that it remapped the keyboard so that certain punctuation characters did not correspond with the keys. Toshiba said this was because I had a Japanese machine which normally dis¬ played Kanji characters.
Included in the Basic are two subsidiary languages, GML and MML. Graphics Macro Language and Music Macro Lan¬ guage can be manipulated to produce fascinating effects, since their commands are stored as ordinary Basic strings.
It’s possible to perform complex musical operations, such as inversion and trans¬ position, by applying the ordinary string- functions to MML command-strings. The equivalent operations may be performed with GML.
In fact, Basic provides a control- environment for both MML and GML, permitting loops and conditional testing.
Support
Maintenance and support will be through the dealer or from the Toshiba main repair centre. The warranty period is 90 days.
Top right is a hinged panel which opens to reveal sockets for the ROM and RAM packs. The cursor movement keys and some editing functions are neatly collected below it.
46 ►
PCN MAR25.1VK3
43
£1,495
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The MIMI’s operating system OS/M r is fully CP/M * compatible so you have access to a very comprehensive range of software, extending from word processing to accounting.
During the next few months we will be announcing the availability of TROJAN - a major software innovation that totally simplifies the learning process and use of micros, and dramatically eases the creation of new applications programs. We are using it and generating applications software in record time - so we can guarantee its performance.
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Features include:
Z80A at 4MHz 64K Dynamic RAM
• Integral D/S - D/D 5V5* ins floppy discs - 700Kb. 13 Full RS232C and Centronics parallel ports
• 96 Key ASCII keyboard - colour coded
• 1 7 programmed function keys.
- Light pen socket.
Elegant compact and light - 24 lbs.
OS/M operating system - fully CP/M compatible
• Disc format conversion facility.
• Wide range of software, utilities and languages.
• Super high resolution graphics (512x256 pixels).
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• Winchester disc option.
Choice of orange or green display.
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'Monitor extra, from £132
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Belmondo Research Ltd
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Tel 051 733 9604
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◄ 43
HARDWARE
Processor type/speed: Standard RAM/max RAM Text screen:
Graphics screen: Keyboard:
Storage:
Interfaces:
OSZIanguage(s):
Other languages: Distributor:
Software supplied:
£2,575 with colour monitor, disk-drive, console Z-80A at 3.99MHz 64K,32kor 16k RAM-pack optional 80 x 24or36 x 24
640 x 200,288 x 192, 160 x 100, 72 x 96. 8 colours 89 full-travel keys ( 8 programmable function keys)
Two double-sided , double-density drives, 285K per disk
1 600BPScassette with remote control, RS232,
Centronics parallel, system bus
T-Basic,CP/M
as on CP/M
Toshiba
CP/M2.2,OA-Basic.T-Disk Basic
Group 1
Group 2
DRAW U Up
D Down L R E F
Left Right
UP and Right Up and Left G Down and left H Down and right
Prefix B Move without plotting
N Return to original point after plotting Prefix is optional, and will default to plotting and leaving the cursor at the last plotted point.
Distance Number of dots to plot. Default is 1
M ( ± ) X, Draw a line from current position to either
( ± ) Y absolute position X, Y or relative if sign is
included.
A 0, 1 , 2, 3 rotate coordinates 0-3 times 90 degrees C 0 . . 7 set line colour to a value between 0 and 7
S 1 .. 255 set step factor for drawing X string execute a string as GML commands.
There are a number of associated commands: —
SCREEN 0 Text mode (either 36 or 80 depending on WIDTH)
1 Low resolution mode (160 x 100, 8 colours)
2 High resolution mode (640 x 200, 2 of 8 colours) LINE (X,Y)- Draw a line from point to point
(X,Y1)
PSET (X,Y) Plot a dot
COLOR I,P Set foreground colour to I, Background to P (Background colour is optional)
CIRCLE X, Y, radius, (colour), (start), (end), (aspect)
Draw a circle with its centre at X, Y, which starts at a point (optionally). Aspect will make ellipses if required. All items in brackets are optional. PAINT X, Y (paint colour), (border colour)
Fill an area enclosed by the border colour with a paint colour. The place to start is at X, Y
PCN PRO TEST
Graphics Macro Language has several commands which are used much like any other Basic keyword.
Toshiba's moving picture show
Overview
The Toshiba T1 00 is a solid machine , which appears to have been well thought out in most respects. The few peculiarities of T-Basic must be cleared up before that language will be usable, but there seem to be no such problems in OA-Basic or CP/M.
In these latter environments the machine is rather ordinary, but that’s no bad thing. At least it’s predictable and probably reliable. There is an enormous amount of rather cumbersone software available under CP/M, which will make it useful for business applications.
The built-in graphics and music features and the comprehensive Basic give it a much wider audience.
Overall, it’s a good buy . . .it has a solid base behind it and will certanlv last.
My main feeling after this test was that the machine did not seem to have any real personality’. Perhaps it’s self-indulgent to talk of such attributes in boxes full of highly refined sand, but Sinclair and Apple owners wouldn't think so . . . nor would many others.
This is not a business machine alone , nor yet a home machine. In fact it’s a direct competitor for the Apple II market, but unless the makers encourage similar atti¬ tudes. it won't be such a big seller.
The Toshiba T100 system dot matrix printer and (left) the disk drive unit — large, solid and reliable.
46
PCN MAR 25. 1983
SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Let us be your purchasing agent/exporter in the United States.
We have access to most microcomputer and American products
such as the folowing:
Columbia Data Products Tandon Condor
Davong Systems Quadram Tecmar Oki Data Verbatim Tally Corona Seequa
We offer mirocomputers, printers, terminals, IBM-add-ons, IBMPC-spares, IBM compatibles, software.
If you do not see your requirements, please contact us for your
exact needs.
SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
15918 LUANNE DRIVE GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND 20877 USA
Telephone: 0101 301-977-0100 Telex: 710828 9703
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PCN MAR25, 1983
47
A new Casio crams 124 operating instructions into one pocket. John Wadkin fumbles with the PB100
£
PCN PRO-TEST
HARDWARE
i
A calculated risk by Casio
Casio’s new PB 100 pocket computer is * ‘not ju$t a glorified calculator’, according to the blurb. But in that case, what is it?
It is too small for easy use, and with tape and printer attached it is not particularly portable . So how viable is it as a bridge between calculators and computers?
Setting it up
The installation instructions are logical and clear, although the instruction manual is de¬ tracted from by a rather patro¬ nising series of substandard cartoons. Parts of the two manuals — one introductory, one instructional — are not as helpful to a first-timer as they might be, as they tend to list a program without explaining either the logic or possible adaptions. And there are no quick reference notes.
There is also no help in learning Basic via flow- diagrams or other fringe techni¬ ques; there is no reading list.
The machine itself is small and compactly designed. In fact, it is so small that it could be bigger all round while still being pocket-sized.
There are 53 keys, including a standard qwerty keyboard with shift for instruction codes, a numeric keypad and a series of command keys. This gives a total of 124 operating instructions. There is access to a second keyboard via an extension mode, but its use is not explained very clearly at the beginning of either manual.
In fact it is used only for additional symbols, and for lower case letters used as part of character strings. None of these symbols can be used for mathematics or program instructions, and I feel more thought might have been given to the allocation of some symbols between the main keyboard and this extension keyboard.
I also feel the signs and symbols given are worse than those of its downmarket calculator ancestors. The signs for COS , SIN , and TAN . are given as ACS, ASN and ATN instead of the more common international codes COSEC, SEC, and COT. Probability and statistics calculations are made more difficult by the lack of both a factorial or “!” symbol and of a fraction facility. But the manual does say that this is not just a glorified calculator, and the availability of 10 program-slots does compensate for some of these criticisms.
Up and running
The various available facilities are: —
Mode 0*the standard default mode for calculating and program-running Mode 1 for program-writing giving access
Tight fit for the stubby-fingered on the PB100 keyboard.
to ten program-slots Mode 2 TRACE, cancelled by mode 3 Mode 4, 5 and 6 are trigonometric options and mutually exclusive Mode 7 PRINT, cancelled by mode 8 Mode • gives access to the extension keyboard and is self-cancelling The screen is 11 characters wide, and uses a 10 x 7 dot matrix for each character, although each program line can be as long as 64 characters. But it doesn't seem possible to use the machine for straight¬ forward typing without regular interfer¬ ence from error messages.
The printer is neat , and produces a clear output 20 characters wide ; but these minor advantages are outweighed by the linkage between the calculator and the printer which is rather flimsy.
Putting the cassette interface together doesn’t improve your confidence about
moving the whole unit. The block of equipment is now no longer pocket-sized — and you don’t have a carrying case.
Fortunately, perhaps, there is no possibility of further expansion beyond the cassette interface and the official Casio-supplied printer.
This is an unusual result for a first foray into this price-range of handcomputers, particularly for a company of Casio’s reputation.
Part of the difficulty lies in the lack of any reasonable definition of the machine’s aims. Several pages into the introduction we are told: ‘The PB100 is not just a glorified calculator — the PB100 is a splendid device for beginning the study of Basic.’
But the PB100 is not really big enough to help students, who will generally have more opportunity for involvement with computers than this machine can give them. And the people who do need machines of this type are those without such opportunities — the younger children at primary school and their parents.
These people are used to the ordinary calculator, the calculator-clock, calcula¬ tor-diary and the calculator-chequebook, and are just about ready for the multi¬ calculator. They could also be convinced they are ready to* learn programming, using Basic or perhaps Logo.
Verdict
Overall, for the person moving from a clever calculator to a baby computer, the PB100 is not really a helpful step. Too many of the clever calculator functions are lost in favour of gains which are variously good, gimmicky, minimal or poorly de¬ scribed and not immediately recognisable. Nevertheless, as as nearly pocket-sized machine for learning Basic habits of programming it could be useful.
SPECIFICATIONS
Capacity:
Weight: Dimensions: Battery life:
£59.95; Rampack £13.95; cassette £25.95; printer £54.95
26 memories as standard, expandable
554 steps; maximum ten programs
12 character, single line LCD
53 keys, qwerty, calculator style
4.1oz
6 Vi x 2V4 x }*in 360 hours approx Basic
through high street stores
48
PCN MAR25.I983
TELEWRITER"
the DRAGON 32 Word Processor
TELEWRITER
Telewriter is the powerful word processor designed specifically for the DRAGON 32 Computer. It can handle almost any serious writing job and is extremely easy to use. It has all the advanced features you need to create, edit, store, format and print any kind of text. With Telewriter you can quickly produce perfect, finished copy for letters, reports, term papers, articles, technical documentation, stories, novels, screenplays, newsletters. It is also a flexible and efficient way to take notes or organize ideas and plans.
51 x 24 DISPLAY
The DRAGON 32 is an incredibly powerful and versatile computer, but for text editing it has some major drawbacks. The small 32 character by 16 line screen format shows you too little of the text and, combined with its lack of lower case letters, bears little resemblance to the way text really looks on the page. Reverse video in place of lower case just adds confusion.
Telewriter eliminates these shortcomings with no hardware modifications required. By using software alone. Telewriter creates a new character set that has real lower case* letters, and puts 24 lines of 51 characters on the screen. That’s more on-screen characters than Apple II, Atari or TRS-80 Model III. That’s more than double the DRAGON 32’s standard display.
FULL SCREEN EDITOR
The Telewriter editor is designed for maximum ease of use. The commands are single key (or single key plus control key), fast, and easy to remember. There is no need to switch between insert modes and delete modes and cursor movement modes. You simply type. What you type is inserted into the text at the cursor, on the screen. What you see on the screen is always the current state of your text. You can move quickly through the text with one key cursor movement in all 4 directions, or press the shift key simultaneously for fast, auto¬ repeat. You can jump to the top or bottom of the text, and beginning or end of a line, move forward or backward a page at a time, or scroll quickly up or down. When you type past the end of the line, the wordwrap feature moves you cleanly to the next.
You can copy, move or delete any size block of text, search repeatedly for any pattern of characters, then instantly delete it or replace it with another. Telewriter gives you a tab
. . . truly a slate of the art word processor . . . outstanding in every respect
- The RAINBOW. Jan 1982
The only one with all these features for your DRAGON 32
51 column x 24 line screen display Sophisticated full-screen editor Real lower case characters Powerful text formatter Works with any printer Special MX-80 driver Requires absolutely no hardware modifications ★ Tandy colour version _ also available _
key, tells you how much space you have left in memorv, and warns you when the buffer is full. _ _
FORMAT FEATURES
When it comes time to print out the finished manuscript. Telewriter lets you specify: left, right, top, and bottom margins, line spacing and lines per page. These parameters can be set before printing or they can be dynamically modified during printing with simple format codes in text.
Telewriter will automatically number A4 pages (if you want) and centre lines. It can chain print any number of text files from cassette without user intervention. You can tell it to start a new page anywhere in the text or pause at the bottom of the page.
You can print all or any part of the text buffer, abort the printing at any point, and there is a “Typewriter” feature which allows you to type straight to your printer. Because Telewriter lets you output numeric control codes directly (either from the menu or during printing), it works with any printer (Tandy, Seikosha, MX-80, Okidata, NEC 8023, C. Itoh 8510, Centronics, GE Terminet, Smith Corona TP- 1, etc.).
There’s even a special driver for the Epson MX-80 that lets you simply select any of its 12 fonts and do underlining with a single underline character.
CASSETTE INPUT/OUTPUT
Because the Telewriter makes using cassette almost painless, you can still have a powerful word processor without the major additional cost of a disk. The advanced cassette handler will search in the forward direction till it finds the first valid file, so there’s no need to keep retyping a load command when you are lost in your tape. The Verify command checks your cassette save to make sure they’re good. You can save all or any part of the text buffer to cassette and you can append pre-existing files from those you have in the buffer already.
ASCII COMPATIBLE
Telewriter turns your DRAGON 32 into the most powerful, lowest cost, word processor in the world today. But that’s not all. The simple ASCII conversion program provided with Telewriter means you can use the full power of the Telewriter editor for creating and editing BASIC and assembly language programs. It means you can use Telewriter to prepare or edit text files used with any data communications program.
Telewriter costs £49.95 on cassette and is
AVAILABLE FROM DRAGON 32 DEALERS NATIONWIDE
OR DIRECT FROM
SEND FOR OUR FREE
; SOFTWARE LISTS FOR I DRAGON 32 & TANDY | RANGE OF COMPUTERS. I PLEASE STATE WHICH I COMPUTER YOU OWN
1 Name -
" Address -
I Make / type of computer
Please include a 1st Class Stamp
. . one of the best programs for the Color Computer / have seen . . .
- Color Computer News. Jan. 1982
Apple II is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.: Atari is a trademark of Atari. Inc.: TRS-80 is a trademark of Tandy Corp.: MX-80 is a trademark of Epson America. Inc.
DRAGON 32 is a trademark of Dragon Data Ltd
PCN MAR25, 1983
49
C ☆ TECH SOFTWARE
ZX Spectrum Software
CENTIPEDE I iml i
must pant in between the number* on a mulDcotourod screen before you have to overlap Price tor SPECTRUM wCS 00
SPECMAN & FROGGER
price ot one' SPECMAN isp type with great machine cot with 3 to 5 ghosts power
There are three ways to get the tape that you require Firstly you can go to one of around fifty retailers in the UK and some more overseas, there is at least one in every town and several in mayor cities Secondly you can nng our Telesales on 061 366 8223 and Alison or Shirley will take your order and tell you of any other games in which you might be interested Lastly — the most popular way — is to write to us at the above address
6 MAIN AVENUE, MOOR PARK, NORTHWOOD, MIDDLESEX.
(Opposite Moor Park Station Easy parking outside)
TEL: NORTHWOOD 20664
HOME COMPUTERS...
COMMODORE VIC-20
Computer £129.991
Cassette Unit £ 44.951
ATARI |
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Thermal Printer |
£195.05! |
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£ 89.95! |
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PL US... PL US... accessories, computer stationery, TV s at special prices, blank video tapes, video library, microcomputer repairs,
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Open 6 days a week. Access and Barclaycard welcome. Mail order a pleasure (pdrp extra).
el? The word processor for the BBC micro
TIMES ED. SUPPLEMENT OCf82 ACORN USER feb83 BEE BUG dec/janB3
Wordwise
The word processor for the BBC machine. This ROM based word processor simply plugs into one of the empty sockets inside. Supplied with full spiral bound manual and cassette containing an example document and free typing tutor program.
Now available from stock. Quantity Discounts
£39.00 + £1.50 p&p + VAT
Pw.id replace _ dIR
oter . . . delete word> ^novs and copy . ~ . . . menuefci
„ j^<gs0ctier^|
V JJ I^Mbulatir
lultipi^ip hcil gW*i ing footing . I| L u ir| rinter cotrol ps itomatic searctran . delete character at scroll . . . bloc rr . tape, disc and Ec lge numbering . . .
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Professional BLBLC.
software for the home
PUTER 4
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16 Wayside, Chipperfield, Herts, WD49JJ. tel (09277)69727
50
PCN MAR 25, 1983
Is the conventional concept of ‘peripher¬ al’ outdated?
Imagine a system that costs £49 to start with but grows in modules to provide megabytes of memory. It also enables you to tailor character and graphics sets, store programs in non-volatile memory, add a printer and magnetic storage and control robots or measuring equipment.
These are the claims for BASICare’s Organic Micro. It consists of a marriage between a Sinclair ZX81 and BASICare’s range of modular memory and interface cards.
B ASICare's Organic Micro concept cuts across definable boundaries. It’s technical¬ ly a series of peripherals for a Sinclair ZX8 1 , but it’s also planned to offer a 16-bit processor that ousts the host micro — some peripheral.
The idea is that you build your own system from a ZX81. You start with a couple of modules to organise the memory map and buffer the Sinclair signals. Then you just keep adding more memory and interfaces as you require them.
The physical problems of delivering such a system have been overcome by going high-rise. Instead of an untidy slum of boxes and wires the modules interlock and are fastened with 64-way bus connec¬ tors on the bottom and top of each module . So long as your ceiling is high enough (see picture ), it should be possible to keep stacking until the bank balance gives out.
The Organic Micro, says BASICare, avoids the trauma of making the big leap to a new system and writing off the old one. When the system begins to show its limitations new modules are simply bought to bring it up to scratch. Eventually older, obsolete modules can be removed as new ‘whizz-bang’ gadgets are bought to replace them.
Like its owner, the system can grow and change; continually replacing cells, but keeping its soul intact.
The most immediate advantage to the ZX81 owner is megamemory — up to four megabytes. This sounds rather like towing a lorry with a mini when you consider that the ZX81 comes with IK RAM and has a conventional address space of 64K. This means the processor is capable of dealing with only 64,000 characters of memory at one time.
The BASICare system gets round this problem with a technique called paging, where the processor literally switches between ‘pages' of memory.
Imagine a telephone network. Tele¬ phone numbers of four or five digits can be exchanged between people in the same area. People living in another area could have the same local numbers, so when a connection is made between areas it is necessary to dial out of the local areas using an extra code of digits. The destination of the connection is then determined by a set of local digits. Paging’ involves much the same technique (see diagram, page 53).
Peter Choi, the man who developed the Organic Micro, sees a progressive increase
in the viability of solid state storage to the point where it overhauls and replaces the magnetic disk.
The micro of the mid to late '80s will therefore have several megabytes of mem¬ ory. This will contain all the user’s data files and programs, and backup could be provided by some form of tape system . The memory need never be cleared, although Mr Choi sees users initially saving memory onto tape at the end of a session and re-booting when the micro is used again.
By this stage true 16- or even 32-bit
microprocessors and their attendant soft¬ ware will have put paid to 8-bit chips, and the micro will be able to address megabytes of memory. Remember, too. that even an address space as large as one megabyte could be multiplied by page switching — so a user could conceivably have close to a gigabyte of data — not just a DOS away but literally at the fingertips.
Heady stuff — but what has this to do with putting pep into a Sinclair. Pray, read on.
Normally a manufacturer’s visionsof the
PCN PRO TEST
§-
EMZEZIE
The Organic Micro concept could give your ZX8 1 a gigabyte of memory . Ian Scales explains
PCN MAR25.1983
51
Ian McKinncll
If you've got an
OCTET KSR or MSR typewriter interface * . now look at the ADD-ONS available. I
OCTET-TI
• Stand-alone cassette interface unit and standard cassette recorder
• RS232 connection for WRITE and READ operations.
• INFINITE memory storage capacity (C15= 112.000 chars.)
• Switch selectable baud rates.
• Will connect to the OCTET-MSR typewriter interface and other RS232 devices.
• Tape counter used to identify start and end of data blocks.
• Extremely easy to use.
OCTET-CD
Standard cassette deck used in conjunction with the OCTET-TI. Supports most standard cassette tapes which are available from Duplex Communications Ltd. Facilitates data block counter and 5 pin DIN socket for data read and write. High speed, high density, storage eg standard C15 tape will store approximately 1 12,000 chars.
OCTET-TF
Tractor feed unit simple clip-on device with standard tractors which are variable for most continuous paper widths. Requires no workshop modifications.
OCTET-EI
• IEEE to RS232 converter for PET microcomputer.
• Connects to OCTET-KSRand MSR interfaces.
• OCTET -E I interface dimension 4 " X 7 " X 21/*
• Unidirectional unit with facility to daisy chain a disk drive/printer.
• Selectable Baud rates. (Standard 1200 Baud)
• Crystal controlled for stable transmission.
• GENERAL PURPOSE DEVICE; can be used between PET and any RS232 device.
OCTET-AI
• RS232 plug in PCB
• Facilitates Apple I and II for RS232 serial connection.
• Simple installation.
• Selective baud rates.
• Allows connection to OCTET -KSR and MSR typewriter interfaces and other RS232 devices.
• Full handshaking capability on buffer-full conditions.
OCTET-PO— Telex tape punch station
• Stand alone table top unit.
• Attractive, modern design: quiet operation.
• Punching speeds up to 75 char/s.
• Plug compatible with OCTET/MSR typewriter interface
OCTET-PR
As OCTET -PO but facilitates punching and reading of telex tapes.
The Duplex Suss-Box and Adaptor enables the user
to make the correct connection between a computer and its peripherals This is achieved by 'linking' the commonly used signals of RS232C through a matrix block' and connector pins If the user wishes to connect their computer to the OCTET-MSR or KSR typewriter/printer then please refer to DUPLEX'S SUSS-BOOK for guidance
Full details from sole suppliers: Duplex Communications Ltd and Duplex Communications (South) Ltd
„ DUPLEX. P^Weteome^ |
Communications
The Interface People
Midlands/North— 2 Leire Lane. Dunton Bassett. Nr. Lutterworth, Leicestershire LEI 7 5JP. Tel: 0455 209131 South- 52 High Street. Stock. Essex CM4 9BW Tel 0277 841011 •The OCTET-KSR and MSR typewriter interfaces are sold exclusively by BRITISH OLIVETTI and their distributors. Please contact your local agent for further details.
PCN MAR25, 1983
PCN PRO-TEST
■M
◄51
rosy future must be taken with a grain of salt. Most would rather sell computers to an existing market they half understand, and leave the future for another day.
The BASICare vision is actually being allowed for in the present range of products. The liftshaft of our fanciful high-rise comprises a full 64-way databus which could theoretically address data for a 32-bit processor.
But in the medium term BASICare has its eye on the 8088 16-bit processor and the IBM PC operating system MS-DOS as a likely upgrade path for Organic Micro users. This is rather neat, as it resembles the breeding strategy of the cuckoo.
The BASICare egg is deposited in the Sinclair nest, grows in value beyond the initial Sinclair investment then kicks the Sinclair out and takes over completely.
BASICare is promising its 8088 housed in a replacement keyboard unit for the ZX81 . It is also working on configuring the Spectrum and considering other makes and models.
Ground floor module
Present configurations of the Organic Micro always start with the Persona. This ‘ground floor’ module links in the ZX81, and buffers its signals to perform a few organising tasks on the data flowing between the processor and the modules. The Persona gives you access to most of the features except memory over 64K.
To go any higher the Minimap system must be configured. This acts as the telephone exchange for the different 64K areas of memory, and switches appropri¬ ate pages in and out to the processor when they are required by the program.
RAM 08 is a low-cost memory module with 2K expandable to 8K by the inclusion of extra RAM chips. RAM 16 and RAM 64 are available for the more ambitious.
Toolkit module
The DROM module is a taste of things to come, and relates to BASICare’s concept of permanent memory. It uses low power CMOS static memory and 2 to 8K of development programs or routines can be held in place after power-down by a long-life nickel cadmium battery which is charged during normal operation. The 2K segments can be protected against accidental overwriting by manipulating ‘shunts' with cap pins protruding from each module.
EPROMs are configured into another class of module called Toolkit . The Toolkit is a conceptual receptacle for handy routines which can be called into a program. The idea is that routines are developed and tested on DROM and then committed to EPROM and left on standby for use with various programs.
Userfont comes as an optional extra for purchasers of RAM 08 and DROM. Using it you can create your own characters, particularly lower-case characters, to give the otherwise rudimentary Sinclair text a bit of class. It also allows specially defined characters to be combined to create blocks
Expanding memory on a sliding scale
Memory Gjroup 2
This slide-rule diagram illustrates the memory management of the Organic Micro using Minimap.
Since an 8-bit address space is limited to 64K the Minimap’s job is to organise a larger memory so the processor (repre¬ sented by the slide rule cursor) doesn’t find itself faced with two blocks of data sharing some of the same addresses. This is done by dividing the entire memory of the system into three memory groups. Each horizon¬ tal group is sub-divided into segments. These each use the same set of addresses.
Memory group II has a series of 32K segments containing Basic programs. Memory Group III has 16K segments of machine code or Basic routines, while segment I must always have the Sinclair ROM with its Basic interpreter plus some extra information to organise the modules.
Using our slide-rule analogy you can see that different memory groups can be ‘slid’ so any segment in group II can team up with any segment in group III under the cursor (processor). Together with group I they then present a vertical 64K ‘page’ of memory to the processor.
Imagine the processor processing in¬ formation from a 64K page and using some of the information gleaned from the program to direct the Minimap to slide a different configuration of groups II and III under the cursor. Because several prog¬ rams can be in memory on different segments, it is possible to use the output of one program from one page configuration to provide input to a program on another, multiplying the memory available for one program. This is especially useful for animated graphics programs.
of graphics for high-resolution animation of games or diagramatic displays.
The Percon modules provide a means of getting some of the results of these features to the outside world. Pericon-a is defined as a general purpose input/output tool. It provides three eight-bit ports for connec¬ tion to LEDs or relays. Pericon-b also provides three eight-bit ports which consist of 24 lines of buffered output. It can be used to drive relays directly or very long signal lines.
BASICare is also working on a fast- transfer cassette machine and an analog- to-digital, digital to analog converter.
To make use of the Organic Micro you have to have a good grasp of programming — the modules are mostly for people who know what they are doing, or at least are prepared to sit down and start learning. BASICare suggests that a beginners’ system could comprise a Persona and RAM 16, costing £46. 90. From there extra modules could be added as the user becomes familiar with the system.
This gradual approach would certainly be wise. Nothing is handed out on a plate. Commercial software is nil, except for
those small programs currently available for the Sinclair. As these don’t make use of the features you are buying it would be foolish to rely on them.
The documentation is by no means comprehensive and a few listings demon¬ strating the animated graphics capabilities of the system at its various stages of growth would probably be appreciated.
The fact that the information provided is rather terse shows that BASICare has yet to consider the potential of its products as an upgrade path for the massive crop of ZX 81 users. Many of them have already outgrown their computers, and are hun¬ grily watching for products which offer a reasonable up-grade path.
But I am assured that BASICare has a mass-marketing plan in hand.
System: Organic Micro Manufacturer
BASICare Microsystems, 01-735 6408 Prices Persona £28.70, Minimap £34.45, RAM 08 (2K) £22.95, RAM 16 £25.25, RAM 64 £74.70, DROM (2K) £37.90, Toolkit £20.65,
Pericon-a £26.40, Pericon-b £32. 15, Pericon-c £40.20 Options Userfont £8. additional 2K for RAM 08 £6.32, additional 2K for DROM £7.48.
PCN MAR25, 1983
53
PCN PRO TEST
PERIPHERALS
Under the tutelage of Karl 'Dr Doolittle' Dallas, the Chatterbox turns out to be no dummy
Vic has got a lot o’gottle
Experimentation is the name of the game with the Chatterbox speech module. Within minutes of power-up I was getting intelligible sounds — although some of them sounded like the ventriloquist's ‘gottle o* geer'.
Its powerful features are done no favours by the Chatterbox name and the ‘court jester’ logo, however. It looks as though it is targeted at the nappy user rather than the computer user, and you get the impression that plugging it into an unsuspecting Vic-20 will be the cue for snatches of panto dialogue.
But let its potential speak for itself.
The Chatterbox is about the size of a cigarette case and plugs into the expansion socket of the Vic. It will also plug into the mother-board if you already have a RAMpack fitted.
There are two dongling plugs — actual¬ ly, a 5-DIN plug and 5-DIN socket — for which no explanation is given in the brief but clear documentation supplied. You just connect the Vic’s audio/video-out socket to the monitor A/V-in, and sounds come out of the monitor speaker.
If you're using a demodulator for normal TV display, you plug the Chatterbox into the socket, and plug the demodulator's 5-pin into the Chatterbox socket.
In use
Speech is synthesised by typing ‘allophones'. These are alphabetical sym¬ bols which stand for 62 unique sounds, including five pauses from ten to 2()0 milliseconds long. The allophones are separated by oblique strokes, so my name becomes: —
‘C/ A R/U/L/P5/DD/P2/ A/LL/U/S/S/'
P5 and P2 are pauses of 200 and 30 milliseconds respectively, the latter repre¬ senting the small explosion that follows the initial letter ‘D’ in a word.
For some reason t he a I lophone /C/ gave a happier initial sound to my first name than /K/, though both can be used. The /AR/ sound (why not /AH/, since it contains no Y’?) seemed to need a brief *uh' before the final ‘1’ — represented in orthodox phone¬ tics by an upside-down ‘a’, and here by the allophone /U/.
The whole name is stored in a string, and voiced by calling SYS 4HMX). To voice strings longer than the capacity of a single VIC program line, you can concatenate them into sentences. But you must remem¬ ber to insert pauses between the words.
Any mistake will terminate the compu¬ ter's interest in saying your word at the point where the mistake occurred, as will failure to terminate each word with an oblique.
I never managed to get a satisfactory ‘w' sound, but ‘/OO/EE/' sounded more like ‘we* than the more obvious 7W/EE'.
The voice itself is completely toneless.
and despite the north-eastern origins of its (presumed) inventor, has a slightly mid- Atlantic flavour.
Pressing ‘FI’ causes each letter to be voiced as it is typed in . as well as screen-edit commands such as RETURN or CUR¬ SOR. (For some reason thisactsonly in the unshifted mode, so that CsrDn is voiced, but not CsrUp.) The constant vocal commentary can become distracting if one is typing in a program, but it can be turned off by pressing ‘F3’.
The documentation consists of a 20-page cassette-sized booklet, which begins with a three-page introduction to the theory of allophones. This can be skipped. Tables of the actual allophones and example words are also included. The words are printed with the allophones separated by dashes rather than obliques, and this could lead users astray.
I found a few minor errors and confu¬ sions. The suggestion that 7DD/ sounds good in initial position and /D/ sounds good in final position, as in ‘daughter and ‘collide’ is confusing, since ‘daughter' has no final /D/. It should have read ‘respec¬ tively’.
The allophone table suggests that /DH/ is the ‘mu' sound in *muM' and /DHH/ the ‘mer* sound in ‘merM*. but they're the short and long versions of a voiced ‘th*. This turned out not to be a printing error. The maker differs with me on what /DH/ actually sounds like.
There are two programs, one demon¬ strating each allophone in turn while printing demonstration words on the screen, the other a speaking clock, which uses the VIC’s internal jiffy-counter to say things such as: —
TT/II/M/P5/I/I/S/S/NN/II//N/P4/TH/ER
TT/EE/N/P/ER/EE/S/II/S/L/EE/'
When I keyed in the demo program. I
kept getting a syntax error on a perfectly normal data line. I couldn't find the cause, but I think I spotted an error in line 565 of the clock program (‘PA5* where, presum¬ ably, they mean *P5').
The manual also says that the allophone /S/ can be doubled to /SS/, but it produced an error when I did this, and I had to use /S/S/.
Verdict
It’s a pity the manufacturer doesn’t supply a suite of demo programs on cassette, since it is irritating to have to key in a long and at first meaningless (and therefore error-prone) program before you can explore the module's full poten¬ tial.
I can imagine wanting to use this neat little add-on (I had it talking within a six-line program in a few minutes) in inter-active programs, and I'm quite jealous that I can't plug it into my business PET. But it should be possible to dissect how it works and write a routine machine code. This would be hard on its inventors, but is, I suspect, inevitable.
MACHINE: Chatterbox Speech Module for the Vic 20 PRICE: £57.45 inc postage and VAT AVAILABLE: from branches of Spectrum shops. MANUFACTURER: ( urragh Computer Components, 0429-729%
■ps
PCN surgery reveals the electronic vocal chords of Curragh's Chatterbox.
aw
Chatterbox — targeted at the nappy-user or the computer user? Let it speak for itself.
54
PCN MAR25.19K3
NEW Micro Marketing
ORIC SOFTWARE
TWO TERRIFYING ADVENTURE GAMES FOR THE 16/48K ORIC
zodiac
★ You're on a frozen glacier. The Ice giant attacks you. You survive. A giant dragon confronts your path. The knife will kill it. Can you find it
★ What's inside the Houses of the Zodiac — Aries and Virgo are but two.
★ Can you find the magic potion, will you ever reach the House of Immortality — the only safe place, or is it
JUST £6.95
DEATH SATELLITE
★ On a strange planet. The time machine has landed. Without fuel. The atmosphere is electric. Will the Robot see you Can you discover the radiation suit, find it or die.
★ The T ransporter Cabinet — can you aet any information from it, failure and you will be marooned with all the deadly perils of an alien planet.
★ Succeed or death may be your penalty.
JUST £6.95
WARNING: THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART
* Buy one and experience the thrills and spills, suspense and subtlety of these original games. Buy two for just £12.00 post & packaging 50p extra.
Expand your horizons Spectrum owners
Now available a 32K internal memory expansion kit for your 16K Spectrum. Four 8K chips simply plug into the circuit board. Full instructions supplied with every kit.
Just £34.95 inc p&p
• Buy before April 30th and we will send a free 48K program with every kit. Usually £6.00
Strictly limited stocks available, all orders Oiled on a first come first served basis.
DEALERS: Micro Marketing distribute , TITAN; A&F; and LOTHLORIAN SOFTWARE as well as the JUPITER ACE and 16K Rom packs for the ZX8 1, JUPITER and Vic-20. PHONE TOD A Y FOR PROMPT SERVICE.
SEND CHEQUES AND POSTAL ORDERS TO.
MICRO MARKETING, 92-104 CARNWATH ROAD, FILHAM, LONDON SW6. TEL: 736 1683
PCN MAR25, 1983
55
ICLUBNETI
Clubnet keeps you in touch with the microcosm of personal computer enthusiasts throughout the UK. It is divided into two sections — Clubs and User Groups.
Each week we list clubs alphabetically by county and user groups alphabetically by speciality, covering about two letters of the alphabet each week.
Entries include up-to-date information as far as possible , and
CLUBS
BERKSHIRE
Small Processor l ser Group. Runs a data library. Has a lot of information on 8060 processor, peripherals etc, also produces newsletter.
Contact Roger Knight at Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whitenights. Reading, tel: 0734 875123.
BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham Amateur Computer Club. Meets at CBS Consultants, Watery Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham 10, on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7pm (annual subs: £4.20 adults. £1.50 juniors).
Has a large software library. Contact Dr M Bayliss, 125 Berryfield Road. Sheldon. Birmingham B26 3UU, tel: 021-743 7197.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Aylesbury Computer Club. Meets at Ouarrendon Youth Club every Friday at 7.30pm (annual subs: £5).
Produces monthly newsletter. Members also meet at Mandsville County Secondary School the first Thursday of each month at 7pm. Contact Ken Knight. 22 Mount
Street. Aylesbury, tel: 02% 5181 . Chittem Microcomputer Club. Meets at the Garden Centre. School Lane. Chalfont St Giles, on the first Wednesday of each month (annual subs: £4 for six months).
Open to both professionals and novices. Informal meetings involving talks, machine demonstrations and discussions.
Contact Mrs W Tibbitts at Ellwood, Deanway, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, tel: 024 07 191 16
Iver Computer Club.
Contact P A Seal at 1 Ormonde Flats, Church Road. Iver Heath, tel: 0753 652792.
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Microcomputer Club, on the third Wednesday of each month.
Contact Derek Tripp at 3 Spurgeons Avenue, Waterbeach, Tel: 0223-861804.
HaveriiNI Microcomputer Club meets at St Marys Church Hall, Camps Road, Haverhill, on the secon. third and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7.30 to 10.30pm. Annual subs: £3 adult; £1 OAP & students; meetings 25p.
Contact Andrew Holliman, at 5 Trinity Close, Balsham. Cambridge CB1 6DW, tel: 022 029-583.
group organisers should let us know of any changes, particularly a move to a new address.
Just started your own club? Drop us a line and we’ll spread the word. Write to: Clubnet, Personal Computer News, 62 Oxford Street, London W1 A 2HG.
Details of the clubs are based on the Amateur Computer Club’s listing.
as yet. Library planned —
K1 software, books and cassettes.
Newsletter available.
APPLE Contact Richard Hawes, tel:
Croydon Apple User Group. Meets 01-301 1111. at Sidda House, 350 Lower Preston Atari Computer
Addiscombe Road, Croydon, on Enthusiasts. Meets at KSC Club, the second Monday of each month Merrion House, Beach Grove, (annual subs: £5 private members, Ashton. Preston, on the third £ 10 commercial members, Thursday of each month at
meetings: 50p). 7.30pm(annual subs: £5).
Future programme includes: Contact Roger Taylop, tel: 0253
extending the Apple hardware, 738192.
graphics for design and an introduction to machine coding. ATOM
Contact Paul Vernon, 60 Liverpool BBC and Atom User
Flawkhurst Way, West Wickham, Group. Meets at Old Swan Kent, tel: 01-777 5478. Technical College, Room C33 on
British Apple Systems l ser Group. the first Wednesday of each month Meets at Old School, Branch at 7.30 to 9.30pm and at
Road. Park Street, St Albans. Birkenhead Technical College, Hertfordshire, on the first first floor. Science and Maths
Tuesday evening and third Sunday department on the third Thursday afternoon each month (annual of each month at 7.30 to 9.30pm. subs: £12.50, joining fee: £2.50). Contact Nick Kelly on 051-525 Caters for all Apple and ITT 2934 (evenings).
2020 users, publishes a magazine called Hard Core.
Contact John Sharp, tel: 09273 75093.
Apple Users Group.
Contact Steve Profitt, The Granary, Hill Farm Road. Marlow Bottom. Buckinghamshire, tel:
062 84 73074.
ATARI
Silica Atari 400/800 User Club A new Club — no meeting place
Bournemouth BBC User's Group. Meets at Lansdowne Computer Centre, 5 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, on the first and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7.30-10.30pm (meetings: £1).
This club has 10 BBC micros. Meetings made up of lectures, demonstrations and discussions.
Contact Norman Carey, tel: 0202 74% 12.
PCN Datelines keeps you in touch with up-coming events. Make sure you enter them in your diary.
Organisers who would like details of coming events included in
PCN Datelines should send the information at least one month before the event. Write to PCN Datelines, Personal Computer News, hi ( Ktord Street. London W1A 2H( i.
I UK EVENTS
I OVERSEAS EVENTS
Robot Exhibition Compec Europe Exhibition National Computer Conference & Exhibition
Dates |
Venue |
Organisers |
March 28-31 |
Royal Dublin Society. Dublin |
Mr Scan Lemass. SDL Exhibitions. Dublin 763871 |
April 14-20 |
Seoul. Korea |
Korea Economic Daily. 441 Chungrimdong, Chung-ku, Seoul 100 |
Mav 3-5 |
Centre Rogier. Brussels |
Tracey Cannon, IPC Exhibitions, 01-643 8040 |
May 16-19 |
Anaheim. USA |
American Federation of Information Processing Societies. 1815 N Lvnn Street, Arlington. VA 22209 |
56
PCN MAR25, 1983
COST EFFECTIVE COMPUTER HEALTH CARE
Symptom
Unexplained software errors and apparently intermittant hardware malfunctions
Diagnosis
The computer system is being subjected to unsuppressed mams borne electrical noise and transients - Dirty Power
Treatment
Cassette-Based Business Software by Andrew Crane
for EPSON HX-20 PORTABLE
NEW from MST CONSULTANTS
STOCK CONTROL PACKAGE
£20.00 fully inclusive
You will wonder how you ever managed without this simple-to-operate, self-contained, functional, stock-control system Features include • Hard copy on integral printer • Ready access to all stock records • Date and time recordings of printer listings • Ability to store thousands of stock items on microcassette files • Menu-based options displayed on integral LCD screen
Software Menu Options include: Add Amend stock, stock search delete stock, reorder report, stock evaluation, stock list amend stock levels, file exchange Also EPSON HX-20 DATABASE. SUPER CAPACITY card index system Choose your own headings Facilities include sorts, searches field totals etc £20.00 inclusive.
DRAGON 32 PACKAGES Available NOW
MST DATABASE -Card Index filino system £14.00 inclusive
MST INVOICES and STATEMENTS Prints excellent and detailed
documents, etc £14.00 inclusive
MST STOCK CONTROL Stock lists stock evaluation Reorder reports
etc £14.00 inclusive
MST BUSINESS ACCOUNTS Debtor/Creditor details and summaries etc. on printout £14.00 inclusive
MSTMAiLER Dedicated databasefor formatted address labels etc
£14.00 inclusive
Each program comes with descriptive leaflet, operator notes, etc Each customer will receive details of our hot-line link
Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to MST Consultants Fully-inclusive prices include VAT and postage costs Send your remittance
to _ _
J Phone or *«nd your card number
Trade Enquiries Welcome VAT Reg. No 365-8595-07
MST CONSULTANTS
Newton Rd.. Bovey Tracey. Newton Abbot. South Devon TQ13 9BB
TEL: 0626 832617
COMPUTER BOOKS McGRAW HILL
WORD PROCESSING BUYER'S GUIDE A. Naiman
Filling the need for a word processing buyer's guide that is neither too complex for the novice nor too superficial for the experienced computer user, this thorough guide shows how word processors enable all kinds of writers to edit, rearrange, reformat and print their docu¬ ments electronically with dazzling speed and efficiency.
07 045869 3 £12.50 □
VIC 20 USER GUIDE (O*orne)
J. Heilborn
This book provides thoughtfully organized, practical information for all users and potential buyers of Commodore's VIC 20. For inexperienced programmers, there are tutorials in VIC 20 BASIC, complete with instructions for colour graphics and sound. For the more experienced programmer, this book serves as a reference manual and includes detailed coverage of VIC 20 BASIC statements and functions, including a chapter on advanced colour graphics.
APPLE LOGO
H. A be lion
Explaining the use of Logo on the Apple II computer, this book contains additional references to programming the Texas Instruments 99/4A home computer. It begins with a basic outline of Logo, then covers elementary programming procedures, and readers then learn how to use Logo with some hands-on practice at turtle geometry', an introductory programming example. More complex commands, techniques and projects are then introduced.
07 000425 0 £11.50 □
How to order these books - simple!
Just tick the titles you require, fill in your name and address, and send this advert for a copy of it) with your cheque or postal order to:-
McGrew Hill Book Co. (UK) Ltd., KP
FREEPOST. Maidenhead. Berks. SL6 2BU. liHlI
WARNING Unf iltered power can damage your computer's health
Filter the mains power supply by replacing the existing 13 amp plugs with Power Internationals THE PLUG’, a mains borne noise and transient suppression device incorporated within a
modified 13 amp plug case (Available from _
^ Dealers or direct from the manufacturer) *rrp £i 5 so including p p
W Should this treatment provide only limited relief. p you should seek specialist advice from:-
Power International Limited 2A Isambard Brunei Road.
Portsmouth, Hampshire POI 2DU. Tel: (0705) 756715
PCN MAR25, 1983
57
Hewson Consultants
We proudly announce our 1983 range of
SPECTRUM SOFTWARE
40 BEST MACHINE CODE ROUTINES FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM £5.95
By Andrew Hewson and John Hardman Section A: Three chapters explaining what you need to know about Z80 machine code on the Spectrum.
• How to load and save machine code.
• How to use the system variables.
• How program lines are stored.
• How to use the stack, the display, the attribute files.
Section B: 40 routines including,
• Scroll - up, down, side to side by pixel or by character.
Search and replace, token swap, string search.
Rotate character, invert character - horizontally and vertically.
Line renumber - including GOSUBs, GOTOs. RUN etc.
20 BEST PROGRAMS FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM £5.95
By A ndrew Hewson Program titles include :
Machine Code Editor - Write, modify, extend and load machine code using this all-basic program. No need to use an Assembler when you have this program.
Index File- Learn about fixed length records, save numeric and string information, add to. sort, modify, delete and print your records. Ideal as a computer based filing system. Duckshoot - Learn how to manipulate the attributes file and have fun at the same time. Graphix - Construct up to 210 graphics characters with the full on-screen editing facilities, enhance and modify them and recall them later to build a detailed display to save on cassette.
Plus: FOOTBALL. DIGITISER. DIARY and many more.
PLUS : Two complete world map screen displays for you to include in your own programs.
BACKGAMMON iex
£5.95
8 Levels of play from novice to expert. Full colour display of tables and dice. Gamble on a single game or a series, double or quits. All the features of the ancient game.
COUNTRIES OFTHE WORLD
£5.95
16 and 48K on one cassette Countries of the World is an educational package designed to give an appreciation of the location of all the main countries and some information about them.
16K version displays a world map. shows the position of each country and names its capital.
48K version; all the above plus prints the population, size, currency, and main languages of each country, and statistics on largest and smallest countries etc.
PILOT 16K
(ZX8l)
£5.95
NIGHTFLITE
16 and 48K £5.95
NIGHTFLITE puts you at the controls of a light aircraft flying at night. You can : Climb, descend, take off.
Land, bank left or right.
Navigate between beacons. Raise/lower the flaps,
Raise/lower the undercarriage,
Adjust engine rpm.
Raise/lower the nose varying amounts. Runway lights appear on approach.
5 modes including Autopilot.
Written by a qualified light aircraft pilot.
SPECVADERS £4.95
16K
Defeat each squadron of Beeple Zaps and another appears only closer.
Cyrian mothership with ejecting Zeetle Baps.
5 levels of play from Orions snails pace to close your eyes and hope.
Real time scoring. 3 lives. Pan galactic gargle blaster for highest score. Descending asteriods.
MAZE CHASE £ 4.95
16and48K
4 or 8 Mazes, Highest score to date,
4 independent guardians. 3 lives.
Full colour. Fast machine code action, magic strawberries, eat lemons to score more, real time scoring.
- m — |
5COpf |
|
A « : : |
2 8 5*5 5 |
AAA m * w * A * |
* m » » # |
||
i < |
i |
|
\ |
i |
|
mm |
1 |
Fly your own aircraft.
Instruments and readouts A/H, ALT. HDG, FL. GR. VOR. VSI. WIND, DME, ADF.and ILS see NIGHTFLITE". Essentially the same as "NIGHTFLITE" but without the Hi Res Graphics.
| ORDER FORM
I
I
PCN
Quantity
Product
Cost
□ DUDD
PUCKMAN 16K
(ZX81)
£5.95
3 Mazes.
Highest score to date.
4 Independent guardians. Magic strawberries.
Real time scoring.
X
I Name _
| iBIock Capitals Please)
I
.Total _
Address.
Signed .
I My Access/Barclaycard No. is -
Post to HEWSON CONSULTANTS. 60A St Mary's Street. Wallingford, Oxon 0X10 0EL. I Tel (0491 ) 36307.
58
PCN MAR 25. 1983
GAMEPLAY
ILJ
ADVENTURE
Ultra-violent days
APPLE
NAME Ultima II APPLICATION
Graphic adventure game SYSTEM Apple PRICE 142. K* PUBLISHER
Sierra On-Line FORMAT Disk LANGUAGE Machine code OTHER VERSIONS Atari disk soon. £42.88 OUTLETS Mail order through SBD Software. 01-870 9275, also various Apple dealers
Ultima II covers every planet in the solar system, including the sun itself. It ranges from the days of legend to far in the future in five time zones, and has a cast of thousands — including Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton . . .
This has to be the biggest gaipe you have ever seen, by a long chalk. But although it's almost a great game, it falls short . Because of its ambition it is a notch over the top.
Objectives
You are an adventurer — just what sort of an adventurer is up to you. You can be a brawny muscle-man wielding a battle- axe, or a wise but frail wizard living on your wits. You start with a total of 99 points which you share out among a list of attributes for your character. You also have to pick a race and profession.
First impressions
The box is emblazoned with suitably romantic artwork, and the first thing you find inside looks suspiciously like a tea- towel. It is a piece of cloth printed with a crude map of the world and emblazoned with strange symbols. They are in fact Tolkien’s runic alphabet, the Cirth, described in Lord of the Rings.
The instruction manual is written in the dazzlingly twee style the Americans do so well. Your computer, you discover, is ‘Ultima’s supreme being and controller!’ You are told to make a copy of the player-disk here; you can make as many as you like , giving each character a different set of abilities.
In play
The first thing you see is an animated picture of a dragon, spitting fire. You can either create a player, play a game, or
demonstrate the game. If you choose to create your charac¬ ter, distribute your 99 points carefully, and watch out when you decide on your race and profession. These two have a noticeable effect on certain of the attributes.
I found this section of the program a little inadequate. Your first try at creating a character for an adventure sel¬ dom comes out right. You should therefore be able to modify at will, but Ultima II simply allows you to make an entry, and then moves on.
You must allocate at least ten points to each attribute, but if you give 25 each to the first three, thus making it impossible to satisfy the rules, the program won’t let you back up. The only way out is to put in some impossible figure like 88, which wipes the whole display.
Pressing ‘P’ for play sets the disk in motion, and the screen clears to reveal a small white figure in the middle of a map.
This map is one of the best parts of Ultima II. It’s com¬ posed of large squares, with different colours and textures, each of which is a different terrain, and where there’s wa¬ ter it ripples. Unfortunately, as it was written in the US, where the Apple colour set is re¬ versed, the water is purple, the trees are brown, and the moun¬ tains are green.
As you move your character, he or she stays in the centre and
the screen scrolls appropriate¬ ly. The redrawing is very fast, and gives a real feeling of motion if the REPEAT key is held down.
The first thing to look for is some safe place, because you have neither armour nor weapons, and you need to talk to somebody to find out what’s going on.
There are all kinds of horrors wandering about, and they all make a beeline for you. They have none but the worst possi¬ ble intentions, so the only choice is to try killing them with your bare hands. They run as
fast as you do, but you don’t know where you’re going. They do — after you.
If you manage to survive the journey and reach a town or castle, you may enter by press¬ ing ‘E’ when standing on the square. Towns are where your character can buy equipment, food and transport. Castles have other commodities.
My first character, Ishtar, died of starvation while trying to kill her fourth Ore with her bare hands.
She’d spent almost all her money on chain-mail and a sword, only to be told when she tried them on that she had neither the strength to wear the armour, nor the skill to wield the sword.
I’d created my character as an Elvish Cleric, hoping to capital¬ ise on a bit of agility and wisdom. The instructions sug¬ gested that a high charisma rating would be useful for extracting information and bar¬ gaining, so I chose a female. This didn’t seem to make much difference.
With Ishtar’s failure in my mind, I created a new character called Gruma. He was a thor¬ oughly nasty piece of work,
largely brute strength and bad breath.
I bought weapons and armour, buckled them on and went off to slaughter the na¬ tives. Gruma had no trouble in disposing of almost anything he met, and with him I discovered the function of time-doors.
These are purple squares which appear and disappear. If you move into one you find yourself in a different place, frequently in a different time.
At first this is confusing, and you stumble blindly in and out of them. The cloth map is supposed to guide you, but it’s some time before you begin to understand it.
I found myself wandering about, trying to keep out of trouble, visiting anywhere and talking to everybody. Most of the inhabitants say something pretty dull, but a few give away real gems.
But even the strongest war¬ rior takes a few hits, and food gets low, so it’s soon time to repair to the place where you can get more of each. No, I won’t tell you where.
After some few hours of play Gruma had amassed several hundred experience points, had sailed the seven seas, visited foreign lands and battled with sea-monsters, but despite all that didn't seem to be getting anywhere.
Gruma, was tough, but not exactly smart. He died of starvation in 1990, just outside New San Antonio. There was no food to be had for nearly a thousand years in either direc¬ tion.
Verdict
The main failing of Ultima II is the poor characterisation. This is probably because the authors spent so much of the memory on the map of the world that they had nothing left to keep half- way-decent data-tables on the actors.
The result is that, apart from in the towns, the only way to get along with anybody is to kill them.
The sheer scale of the game is impressive, and apart from the mind-numbing violence, there’s plenty to do and discov¬ er. At £42.88 it is expensive but good value, since it will provide a challenge for some time .
Richard King
RATING
Lasting appeal -«««#%«
Playability
Use of machine —
Overall value —
PCN MAR25.1983
59
GAMEPLAY
ADVENTURE
Starship grocer
SINCLAIR ZX81
NAME Trader APPLICATION
Graphic adventure game SYSTEM Sinclair ZX81. 16K PRICE £9.95 PUBLISHER Pixel Productions, through Quicksilva 0703 20169 FORMAT C assette LANGUAGE Basic OTHER VERSIONS Vic 20. £14.95 OUTLETS Mail order, various major computer stores
Trentor, space trader and mer¬ chant extraordinaire, is two days out from Epsilon Dock with a full cargo of gold nuggets, raw fuel and priceless booster spice. Armed only with an atom blaster, credit card, notepad and pen, Trentor makes his living by flitting between the six moons of his home world Meri- dien, swapping fuel for food for narcotics for statues for . . .
You can try your own luck as a space trader in this three-part space adventure from Pixel, marketed by Quicksilva.
Objectives
You are in charge of a cargo spaceship. You have a little money, or credits, and your task is to exchange the credits for goods on one moon and visit the others, trading as you go.
The part of the trader is played by one person, but two could co-operate on decision¬ making. You have little control over the action, and must cope with the sort of activities you’ve come to expect from a compu¬ ter, including quizzes, graphic action and strategy.
Your objectives are to return to the main port of Epsilon , and to come back with more credits than you started with.
First Impressions
The cassette comes in a large box, together with an eight page booklet giving instructions, and a story about Trentor’s adven¬ tures with the statue-collecting Alphans and pet-loving Psions.
You get a short loading test which tells you what to do next, and the instructions are straightforward. LOADing the first part of the game took a good six minutes on my ZX81 .
In play
At the start of the game you are at Epsilon Dock and have 1 ,000 credits. You must buy a tankful of fuel for your hopper —
enough to get you to your next landfall.
Now is also the time to spend your credits on a stock of as many commodities as you can afford. Choose from such trea¬ sures as Petrochem, munch (a food that comes in sweet red or savoury green varieties), synthomunch, another food¬ stuff (disgusting to eat, but highly nutritious and cheap), boosterspice (a narcotic with unpredictable side-effects), gold and raw fuel.
But don’t go for just one commodity — not even the entrancing boosterspice — or you could lose the game fast.
Now you must travel, and trade. You go to Psi first, but be warned, the inhabitants will look down on you, and will try to humiliate you — they scorn your materialistic lifestyle.
‘Use your calculator if neces¬ sary,’ the game instructions advise. ‘They can’t think any less of you.*
A calculator, pen and paper really are needed to keep track of your changing cargo and the number of credits you have, or you owe. Without these aids you’ll be thrown into a panic the first few times you play. There are different things to do on all five moons, and just getting to them is a major exercise in itself.
You must battle against grav¬ ity on your approach to Beta, work out your angle of approach to Alpha, and steer clear of Gamma’s sky-high radiation levels.
You are kept in touch with developments by several sen¬ tences of background material at each event. But even if you go through the game several times, you still have to sit through all that background, as there is no way of turning it off.
Twice you are left in suspense while you LOAD parts two and three, but these breaks in play are useful, as playing time for the whole game runs to around 15 minutes — unless you are killed.
Verdict
As a trading simulation, this game is quite good, but does have limitations. You have no
■■■■■■■■■■■
choice about the moons you visit, or the order in which you visit them. The prices at which you buy and sell and the unexpected events you encoun¬ ter are all random.
As a result, after you’ve played two or three times, you will have a good idea of what to expect , though there will still be some surprises even after ten games or more.
What with letting your
friends play, not to mention your parents or children , I think the game should retain some interest for several months. But for just one player, I expect it would last maybe a dozen plays.
Mel Pullen
RATING
Lasting appeal — WWft Playability— «*%*%*%
Use of machine —
Value — W
ADVENTURE/QUIZ
Interstellar tourist
VIC. SPECTRUM. ZX81
NAME Starquest/Encounter APPLICATION Adventure/quiz games SYSTEM Sinclair ZX81, 16K
PRICE £3.95 PUBLISHER Pixel Productions, through Quicksilver 0703 20169 FORMAT Cassette LANGUAGE Basic OTHER VERSIONS
Vic 20. £7.95 OUTLETS Mail order, various major computer stores.
Both these games, on a single cassette, deal with man’s first steps away from this planet.
The first, Starquest, sends you on a space adventure. You and your interstellar explora¬ tion ship Starquest must search for new worlds to colonise.
The second, described as an IQ Game, casts you as an Earthling kidnapped by aliens wishing to probe your intelli¬ gence and cultural develop¬ ment.
These games are written by Pixel and marketed by Quick¬ silva, and come in versions for the Vic, Spectrum, and ZX81 . 1 tried the ZX81 version.
Objectives
In Starquest, you wander around the universe investiga¬
ting stars. You are on the lookout for Earth-like planets ripe for colonisation, though your goal is also to chart and claim any planets suitable for mining.
There are hazards to be faced including meteor showers, unidentified missiles, super¬ novas, and black holes — and the latter two can wipe you out. The game ends if you lose your ship or manage to find a habitable planet orbiting a star.
There is no winning or losing; at the end, you are simply given a score screen that lists stars visited, planets claimed for Earth, and shuttle ships lost.
First impressions
Apart from a brief scene-setting blurb on the back of the cassette label, no instructions are given. But as the game is a simple cycle of finding a star, looking at planets, and claiming them if they are of any value, none are needed. You get a brief LOAD¬ ING test before the program itself, so you can set your tape volume correctly.
60
PCN MAR 25. 1983
GAMEPLAY
CARTOONS
Horace stories
ZX SPECTRUM
In Play
You have very little to do in this game, and I found that dis¬ appointing. You get to press the odd key when you’re told to at various points, but you can’t, modify the action at all.
At the start you see a black screen with a handful of stars, and hit a key to select a star to visit. You are told that your spacecraft is going into hyper- drive, then your arrival is announced seconds later.
‘This is Procyon', you may be told, along with details of the star jump you just made and the star’s vital statistics. You scan the star system for habitable or mineral-rich planets, and you may orbit any of interest.
But most of the time all you do is sit there and admire the screen. And as the program is written in Basic, everything is rather slow.
The second game on the tape , Encounter, really carries on where you finished with Star- quest. It is, says Pixel, ‘A simulation of primary contact with extra-terrestrial life.*
That sounds promising, but Pixel warns you that the experi¬ ence may be rather one-sided. ‘It is a much greater intellect that brings these travellers to our insignificant orb’, trumpet the game instructions. ‘Is man yet ready for membership of the galactic union?’
If you can answer the ques¬ tions the alien sets you. . .well, why not try it and see?
Verdict
Starquest’s format is so repeti¬ tive that I don’t think anyone will play it for long. I found it downright boring after the first half hour, since you are only required to do anything once every few minutes.
Encounter did have a couple of surprises in store, but all in all , despite a fairly low price tag,
I think there are much more interesting games available.
Mel Pullen
RATING
Lasting appeal —
Playability—
Use of machine —
Value—
NEXT WEEK
Gameplay sits down at the card table with the Sinclair Spectrum, and looks at a batch of games for the Dra¬ gon. These include some old computer favourites and a version of 3D noughts and crosses.
NAME Hungry Horace, Horace Goes Skiinc APPLICATION animated games SYSTEM ZX Spectrum. 16K PRICE £5.95 each PUBLISHER Psion. 01-723 9408 FORMAT Cassette LANGUAGE Assembler OUTLETS WHSmith. all Sinclair dealers
Just when you thought micro¬ computer games had nothing more to offer, Psion and Mel¬ bourne have come up with the electronic equivalent of the Mr Men books.
The idea is that one cartoon character — in this case Hungry Horace — is central to a whole series of games.
Hungry Horace has been around since September, and now the first successor, Horace Goes Skiing, has been laun¬ ched.
The Horace games seem
suitable for seven-year-olds and upwards, and run on the 16K or 48K Spectrum.
Objectives
The objectives in both games is to amass points while attemp¬ ting to prolong Horace's life.
Hungry Horace gives you four lives, and you run round a succession of maze-like parks eating flowers while park- keepers try to catch you.
Horace Goes Skiing gives you $40 to spend on skis and ambulance fees. The idea is to cross a busy road to the ski hire shop.
If you run out of money, you can earn more by pushing your points over pre-set thresholds, or by deliberately crossing and recrossing the roads without mishap.
First impressions
Both Horaces come in attrac¬ tive packaging. The instruc¬ tions are clear, although the spelling leaves a little to be desired.
Both games are easy to learn , but hard to master as they become progressively faster and/or more difficult.
In play
The controls used are T and ‘A’ for vertical movement and ‘I’ and ‘P’ for horizontal. Since you must use a keyboard, these are sensible letters to use.
The idea is to negotiate Horace round a park eating the flowers and being pursued by up to four park-keepers, who are portrayed as ferocious- looking disembodied heads. If a park-keeper drops his lunch of cherries or strawberries, Horace earns extra points by eating it.
Somewhere on each screen a bell is tolling. If Horace gets to the bell, the parkies turn white with fear and their hair stands on end.
‘Skiing’ uses similar controls, although vertical movement is controlled by the ‘O’ and ‘Z’ keys.
First, Horace has to cross a very busy road in order to get to the ski shop where he buys skis for $10. Then he has to cross back to get on to the ski slope.
If hit by a vehicle, Horace has to stump up a $10 ambulance fee and then attempt to cross the road again.
Once on the ski slope, Horace has to negotiate the usual flags, hillocks and trees. If he hits a tree, he can break his skis. But sometimes he gets away with it. A hillock can send him in any direction and passing between flags increases the points.
Verdict
Neither game is completely original, but both are a lot of fun. Horace, like ET, is a lovable little chap and I think £5.95 is a reasonable price to pay for each of his adventures.
David Tebbutt
RATING:
Hungry Horace Lasting Appeal —
Playability —
Use of machine —
Overall value —
Horace Goes Skiing Lasting appeal —
Playability — ftWWWW Use of machine — PQ
Overall value —
PCN MAR25, 1983
61
' solves yo Ur moo queries & problem^
Computer Answers, the unique magazine that solves your micro queries and problems.
I WHAT’S THE USE OF BUSINESS GRAPHICS?
IS PASCAL BETTER THAN BASIC?
WHAT CAN AN EXPERT SYSTEM DO?
Free Question and Answers service
Free Advertiser Reply service
Join the Readers
Council
Benefit from the Council of Elders
Included in our regular sections this month:
★ UPGRADE: A preview of Apple’s new LISA and its novel cursor.
★ CONNECTIONS: Ways of making your printer form characters that are not in your micro's character set.
★ PROGRAMMING: The third part of our continuing Assembler course for the 6502 processor.
★ OPERATING SYSTEMS: Howto manage a corrupted CPM disk.
★ APPLICATIONS: How graphics can make business information easier to understand.
★ BUYING AND BACKUP: Reduce your risks, rent software before you buy it. We look at the possibilities.
THE SINCLAIR ZX SPECIAL Seven pages of answers in response to the hundreds of questions on the world's most popular family of Micros.
Plus sacks of readers’ questions, ANSWERED
COMP10H OUT NOW-75p
From W H Smith, John Menzies and all leading newsagents.
PCN MAR25. 1983
63
What do you do if your BBC Micro goes wrong?
If you value your BBC Micro and your money you can now purchase extra one and two year full guarantees direct from us or via most Acorn dealers.
If your Micro is still under warranty, just fill in the expiry date on the coupon* and the guarantee will start from that date.
We carry a full stock of parts and should your computer malfunction we will repair it within five days of receipt. HHBI
A full one year guarantee costs just £1 8.40 And a full two year guarantee costs just £27.60
If your Micro is already faulty, and out of guarantee, we will repair it on receipt and issue a full years guarantee for £29.90 or a full two years guarantee for £39.10. Please state fault when sending micro.
For you and your BBC Micro's peace of mind send the coupon today
O’ Please tick service required. Warranty Expiry*
□ I enclose £18.40 for a full 1 years guarantee Date / /83
□ I enclose £27.60 for a full 2 years guarantee If applicable
□ I enclose £29.90 for an immediate repair and a full 1 years guarantee
□ I enclose £39.10 for an immediate repair and a full 2 years guarantee
Surname . Access Card No .
Initials
Address
or telephone your access card number to Madingley 210212
Make/Model . A/B
Serial No .
Send remittance to: _
Cambridge Processor Services,
25 Parsonage Street. Dept. PCN Cambridge CB5 8DN.
This offer applies to mainland UK only. This guarantee does not apply to major damage caused by abuse.
64
PCN MAR 25. 1983
PCNProgramCards
I Analogue Clock Card 1 of 3
•S MOP AC 1 /3
A clever program demonstrating the graphics capabilities of the computer. Has facilities for a real-time alarm clock with sweep second-hand and also a teaching aspect.
BBC Model 3 BBC Basic
Minimum requirements: 32K. Application: General interest.
10 MODE li VDU 24, 0| 0| 1023* 1023*
20 VDU 26.32,31,39,0 30 VDU 19,1, S| 0|
40 GCOL 0, 129i GC0L 0,3
SO COLOUR Oi COLOUR 130* CLS» CLQ <.
60 PROC CLOCK* GCOL 0,2
70 R1 - 236* R2 - 312* TH - PI* F - 60* HRS - 6 80 PROC HANDS <R1,R2,TH,F>
90 R1 -"384* R2 - 416* TH - 0* F - 90* MINS - O 100 PROC HANDS <R1,R2,TH,F>
110 REPEAT
120 CLSt PRINT TAB (0,4) | "CLOCK C"» PRINT TAB (0, 6) I "TEACH T"* PRINT TAB (O, ) » "LEAVE L"
130 INPUT TAB <0, 10) , "ENTER " , A*
140 IF A* ■ "C" THEN PROC .REAL
ISO IF A» - "T" THEN PROC TEACH
160 IF A4 - "L" THEN MODE It END
170 UNTIL FALSE
180 DEF PROC HANDS (R1,R2,TM,F>
190 MOVE X, Yt MOVE X ♦ R1*8IN(TH - PI/F),Y ♦ R1#C06(TH - PI/F)
200 PLOT 03, X ♦ R 1 *S I N ( TH ♦ PI/F>,Y ♦ R1*C0S(TH ♦ PI/F)
210 MOVE X ♦ R1 —SIN (TH - PI/F),Y ♦ R1*C0S(TH - PI/F)
220 DRAW X ♦ Rl *SIN <TH ♦ PI/F),Y ♦ R1*C0S(TH ♦ PI/F)
230 PLOT 83, X ♦ R2*SIN(TH),Y ♦ R2*C0S(TH)
240 ENDPROC
10 Set four-colour graphics window. Set to magenta. Text window set to yellow.
60 Draw clock-face PROC CLOCK. Set hands to 6.00 using PROC-HANDS.
110 Initial prompts — procedures called appropriately until LEAVE selected
appropriately until Lt Main program loop.
180 Hand drawing procedure requires Rl, R2— radii of hand; TH— angle of hand (0-2ir); F— hand width factor. Draws single hand.
PCNProgramCards
I Analogue Clock Card 2 of 3
S 8302AC2/3
230 DEF PROC CLOCK
260 R - 304* X - 312* Y - 312* CT - -1 270 FOR TH - O TO 2*PI STEP PI/30
200 GCOL 0,3
290 IF CT - 4 THEN GCOL 0,0* CT - -1
300 MOVE X ♦ R-SIN (TH) , Y ♦ R»C08(TH)i DRAW X .♦ (R - 64) *SIN (TH) , V ♦ (R - 64 ) -COS (TH)
310 CT - CT ♦ 1
320 NEXT TH
330 ENDPROC
340 DEF PROC .TEACH
330 GCOL 0, 1 * PROC _ HANDS 2
360 MINS - RND (60) - 1* HRS - RND(12) - 1 370 GCOL 0,2* PROC_HANDS2t CLS
300 PRINT TAB (2, 4) I "WHAT TIME IS IT?"
390 INPUT TAB(0, 12) , "HOUR",Ht INPUT TAB (0, 14) , "MINS" , M 400 IF HRS - O THEN HRS - 12 410 PRINT TAB (2, 16 > |HR8| "» "1MINS
420 IF H - HRS AND M - MINS THEN PRINT TAB (O, 18) I "RIGHT. " ELSE PRINT TAB(0, 18 ) | "WRONG' "
430 INPUT TAB (O, 24) , "ANOTHER TRY" , A4 440 IF A* - "Y" THEN GOTO 330 430 ENDPROC 460 DEF PROC HANDS 2
470 TH - (Pl730)*MINS* Rl - 384* R2 - 416* F - 90 480 PROC HANDS (Rl , R2, TH, F )
490 TH - (PI/6)*HRS ♦ (PI /360) ♦MINS* Rl - 236* R2 - 312* F - 60 300 PROC HANDS (R1,R2,TH,F>
310 ENDPROC
250 Clock-face procedure. Centre at 51 2, 512, radius 504, mark length 64. Mark colour white — minutes; black — hours. Marks at intervals of tt/30.
340 Teaching procedure.
350 Undraw hands. Random hours and mins. Draw hands at new time in yellow. Prompt user for hour value and minute value. Verify input and prompt for repeat or return to main loop.
460 Procedure to set parameters for hand-drawing procedure. 480 for minute. 500 for hour hand — also adjusted by No. of minutes past hour.
PCN MAR25. 1983
65
PASCAL FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM
Hisoft are pleased to announce the availability of Hisoft Pascal 4 for the 48K ZX SPECTRUM.
No longer do you have to put up with the slow execution speed of BASIC programs; Hisoft Pascal 4 produces programs that run between 40 and 100 (yes 100!) times faster than the equivalent programs written in ZX SPECTRUM BASIC. For example, a program to sort a 100 element array of numbers into ascending order takes 60 seconds in BASIC, while HP4 produces a program which does the same thing in 0.6 seconds!
NOW you and your children can learn to program in an efficient and structured way by using Pascal, the favoured language in schools and universities.
NOW you can write games programs etc. which run as fast as you need them to without having to resort to assembler or machine code.
NOW you can use a language which requires minimal re-learning when you move from your SPECTRUM to another computer; Hisoft Pascal 4 has all the essential features of Standard Pascal as detailed in the Pascal User Manual and Report - by Kathleen Jensen and Niklaus Wirth, the man who designed Pascal.
Hisoft Pascal 4 is a professional piece of software designed by a team who have been writing Pascal compilers for many years — you will find it to be powerful, flexible and very easy to use.
To top it all, we are offering the package (which includes a 60 page manual), for a limited time, to 48K ZX SPECTRUM users at an INCREDIBLE price of:
ONLY £25 INCLUSIVE
Write for more details TO DA Y to:
S5HISDFT
r3J <-» f. 60 Moor
gthi-guJ Lid*n SWINDON E_TLZ) L. SN3 6LS
Tel. (0793) 26616 (Answering machine)
r?:
I -
1. GREAT BRITAIN LIMITED.
You are PM and Chancellor. Fight INFLATION and UNEMPLOYMENT, balance the BUDGET and try to stay POPULAR
ACORN USER: Highly enjoyable ZX COMPUTING: A challenging game MICRO UPDATE: A dream lor megalomaniacs
£5.95 on cassette
★ ★ A MUST FOR ELECTION YEAR ★★
2. INHERITANCE
A 2 part game packed full of features Try to gain your INHERITANCE in part 1 and if successful takeover the PARADISE COLA Co. in part 2
PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD Wed presented and good value tor money
£5.95 on cassette
3. THE WORLD TRAVEL GAME
S0** A game fori or 2 players
Your aim is to collect 6 souvenirs from f ) (S \ around the world (from Russia to K s' / A Falklands) in the shortest possible time
V- \ Cope with HIJACKS. STRIKES,
/ > V) THIEVES. CASH SHORTAGES.
^ / BANKRUPTCIES. BAD WEATHER,
/ ETC World Map & full instructions
^ u / supplied
X. v' BBC ONLY:
- £6.95 on cassette
Available from your local computer shop or direct from:
SIMON W HESSEL SOFTWARE, Dept. P
15 Lytham Court, Cardwell Crescent,
Sunninghill, Berkshire. Tel: Ascot 25179
24 Hour despatch
BBC 32K
1 Year guarantee
SPECTRUM 48K
FOX ELECTRONICS
Products for the ZX81 SPECTRUM VIC 20 and JUPITER ACE
SPECTRUM
UPGRADE KIT Upgrades your machine to 48K, without so(derin< Issue 2 machines only
£24.50
INCL P&P
A replacement keyboard with a calculator type feel Peel off backing and press to fit.
Incredibly low price of
£10.00 mtamm
INCL P&P
VIC-20
The VIXEN RAM CARTRIDGE for the Vic 20
Switchable between 16K or 8K & 3K Gives you the option of full 1 6K RAM or 8K and 3K RAM in one package Simply plugs into the rear expansion port and fully compatible with all motherboards and modules available No re-addressing of existing BASIC programs
noortor-i
£39.95
FOX ELECTRONICS
141 Abbey Road, Basingstoke, Hants. RG21 9ED
OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS PLEASE ADO £2.50 POST ANO PACKING.
SPECTRUM
A 42 key full travel keyboard Simply unscrew the ZX printed circuit board and screw it into the keyboard case No soldering _
requ,red WAWWA
£29.95 1
-£2 00 P&P
ZX81
The unique ZX-PANDA the professionally produced 16K RAM PACK that is expandable to 32K simply by plugging in our expansion
module _
solidly built, attractively cased to tit perfectly on to ZX8 1 without HggH
Includes LED power
1 6K expandable RAM
£22.50- £2.00 P&P 1 6K expansion module
£18.00- £2.00 P&P
orfull32K . £38.00 -£2 00 P&P
or the really big one 64K at
£44.00 ♦ 2 00 P&P
ALL PRODUCTS
FULLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR Deliveries 10 days from receipt ot order
THIS MONTH’S
BRAINWAVES FOR NEWBRAINS
AT LAST...
THE FIRST HIGH RESOLUTION GRAPHICS PROGRAM FOR THE GRUNDY NEWBRAIN
OTHELLO
**** Superb Graphics **** 3 Skill Levels *»** 1 or 2 Player •***
There is even a computer vs computer option for you to study the techniques of the game and improve your own skill.
CASSETTE £4.00
ANOTHER FAST ACTION GAME
WORMS
An exciting game in which you play the part of a worm which has to catch ana eat random numbers which appear on the screen. However, there are one or two problems . every number you swallow increases not only your score, but your length!!! If you happen to reverse suddenly, you will choke yourself to death, and your skeleton will be left to obstruct you the next time around — and guess what happens if you should hit your ever-growing tail!!! _ CASSETTE £4.00 _
We have many more programs, including pages — wordworker — directory mailist — pricelist — diary — telephone — send stamp for details cassette loading hints’ leaflet — free with every pricelist.
OUR PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALL NEW¬ BRAIN DEALERS
Good original NewBrain programs always required — why not call us?
ALL THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE FIRST CLASS POSTAGE AND PACKING
ALL PROGRAMS ARE IN STOCK AND SENT BY RETURN POST DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED
BRAINWAVE SOFTWARE LIMITED
Tilbury-Juxta-Clare, Nr. Halstead, Essex C09 4JT Tel: 0787-237831
66
PCN MAR 25. 1983
PCNProgramCards
J Analogue Clock Card 3 of 3
520 DCF PROC REAL
530 CLSi PRINT TAB <0, 4) I “START J NOT I ME? H
540 INPUT TAB <0, 8) , "HOUR", Hi INPUT TAB (O, 10> , “HIN6" , H
550 IF H < 1 OR H > 1 2 OR H < 0 OR M > 59 THEN PRINT CHRB(7)i GOTO 530 540 OCOL 4 , 2i PROC HANDB2 1 PRINT TAB (2, 12> I HI - 1 " I M
570 HRS - Hi MINS - Mi OCOL 4,2l PROC_HANDS2
580 PRINT -TAB<0, 144 | "ALARM SETTING" i INPUT TAB tO, 1 9 ) "HOUB-% bU INPUT JAB CO, -
20) , -MINS-.M
590 IF H < 1 OR H > 12 OR M < 0 OR M > 59 THEN PRINT CHRB(7)l GOTO 580 600 PRINT TAB(2,22) |H» "i "IM
610 INPUT TAB (Ot 28) , "ALL OK",AB. BW - TRUEl SW1 - O 620 IF At <> -V- THEN GOTO 530 630 REPEAT
640 FOR BTH - 0 TO 2#PI - PI/30 STEP PI/30 650 IF SW1 - 0 THEN 8N1 - 1 1 GOTO 670
660 GCOL 4, 2l MOVE X,Vi DRAW X ♦ 416*9IN(8TH - PI/30), Y ♦ 416*C0S(STH -
PI/30)
670 GCOL 4, 2i MOVE X,Vi DRAW X ♦ 4 16*SIN <8TH) , Y ♦ 4 16*COS (BTH>
680 IB - INKEYB (85) I IF IB - "0" THEN BW - FALSE i GCOL 4,2» MOVE X,Yl D
RAW X ♦ 416*SIN<STH) , V ♦ 4 1 6 *COS ( STH ) I BTH - 2*PI 690 IF IB - -A- THEN BOUND *11,0,0,1
700 NEXT STH
710 IF SW - FALSE THEN GOTO 780
720 GCOL 4, 2i PROC HANDS2
730 GCOL 4, 2l MINS - MINS ♦ 1
740 IF MINS - 60 THEN MINS - Oi HR6 - HRS ♦ 1
750 IF HRS - 13 THEN HRS - 1
760 PROC HANDS2
770 IF H - HRS AND M - MINS THEN ENVELOPE 1,2,20,40,-30,127,127,127,32,32,3 2,0,126,1261 SOUND 1,1, 1,1 780 UNTIL SW - FALSE 790 ENDPROC
520 Real-time clock procedure. Set time to start at. if valid (12 hour clock), undraw previous hands, draw start time.
580 Set alarm as above.
61 0 Prompt to start dock or reset times.
630 Clock loop performed until ' O" is pressed for exit. STH is second hand position — stops at 59 to reposition hour and minute hands.
680 Pause on keyboard for 0.85 seconds. "O" — exit. “A" — turn off alarm sound.
710 If exit selected then exit.
720 Undraw hands. Calculate new time. Draw hands at new position.
770 If alarm setting reached then turn on sound — continuous until turned off. Round again or return to main loop.
PCNProgramCards
Chart Generator Card 1 of 3
8302SCGV3
A useful program to allow input of statistical data as X and V values to produce line or bar charts. User selection of axial positions is a feature of the display. Editing of data is a sensible facility.
Sinclair Spectrum Spectrum Basic
Requirements: 16K. Application: Statistics.
10 LET A - 23i DIM 8<A,2)i LET EB - "ERROR - RETRY-
20 LET LX - 2.34.13. LET LY - LXi LET HX - -LX» LET HY - HX
30 LET F - 0* GO SUB 500
40 GO SUB 2000. INPUT "Is thi. data corr.ct?",AB
50 IF AB - "YM THEN GO TO 120
60 IF AB <> -N- THEN PRINT EB. GO TO 40
70 INPUT "Ssl.ct data input no • “,N
80 IF N - 0 THEN GO TO 40
90 IF N > A THEN PRINT "Stay in rang*". GO TO 70
lOO IF N > L THEN LET L - L ♦ ll LET N - L
110 LET F - It GO SUB 530* GO TO 70
120 GO SUB lOOO
130 INPUT "(E)nd or (M)ors",AB
140 IF AB - -M- THEN GO TO 20
130 IF AB <> -EM THEN PRINT EBi GO TO 130
160 STOP
300 PRINT "PI .a*, input ststisticsl data"
310 PRINT "End of data is 9999"
520 FOR N - 1 TO A
330 INPUT ( "X-Ax i al data (No "»N»" ) - "), S<N, 1)
533 IF F - 1 THEN GO TO 350
540 IF S (N, 1 ) - 9999 THEN LET N - N - 1 i GO TO 620 330 IF 8(N,1) > HX THEN LET HX - B(N,l)
360 IF S<N,1) < LX THEN LET LX - 8<N, 1)
370 INPUT ("Y-Axial data (No "INI" ) - "), B(N,2>
380 IF S (N, 2) > HY THEN LET HY - S(N,2>
590 IF S (N, 2) < LY THEN LET LY - 8<N,2)
SCO IF F - 1 THEN RETURN 610 NEXT N
620 LET L - Ni RETURN
10 A defines max. no. of variables. Array S contains data.
20 LX, LY— low values start high: HX, HY — high values start low.
30 Set Ffor full data input. Call input routine.
40 Display data. Prompt. Answer *‘Y" or "N "only.
70 Edit facility by Data input No. Zero for end. Re-enter both X and Y values. Data can be added to end of previous Data. Re-displays on end.
120 Call chart drawing routine.
1 30 On return select action then end or restart.
500 Data input routine. If F = 1 then edit mode selected. High and low values adjusted as necessary. Returns to appropriate section
PCN MAR25. 1983
67
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LLAMASOFT!!
AWESOME GAMES SOFTWARE!
— for VIC, COMM 64, ATARI, SPECTRUM
III new from the designer of gridrunner
Hi SO GOOD IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!! I
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The BIGGEST ADVANCE in Video Games design since Defender hit
LASER ZONE Quite simply the £ S&i: BEST VIC-20 Came in existence!' I
igijjjji Laser Zone requires a Joystick, 8 or £ H&16k. and DEDICATION'! I
gflE Designed and Programmed by
Jeff Mmter for the VIC-20 with 8 or Ram Pack. If you don't yet have jxjxj: the memory, LASER ZONE IS THE iSj:;: ONLY EXCUSE YOU NEED TO BUY IT!
Experience Laser Zone-an utterly liillll®! NEW. TOTALLY ORIGINAL MASTER- i^x-iwwj^l^CE of_Video Games Design11
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Learn to control two spaceships gigg at once. FEEL THE EXHILARATION as. a,ter lon8 houfs practise, you gjgjg contr°l the two ships so that they £•£& function as a SMOOTH. CO- :g:g:g OPERATIVE TEAM!!
Feel the RAW POWER as you lunge :j::xj for the Electro Button and BLAST X;X; your enemies into expanding clouds igigof SPACE JUNK'!
IN-: FEEL THE HUMILIATION *as a ggj carelessly -aimed BLAST SLAMS into gxj the side of your last remaining ship!'
gi|l:':A COMMODORE 64 version will | jij&xbe available soon. I
LLAMASOFT — 49 Mount Pleasant, Tadley, Hants. Tel: 07356-4478
Please add SOp p&p to all orders
68
PCN MAR 25, 1983
PCNProgramCards
Chart Generator Card 2 of 3
8302SCG2/3
PRINT "Data rang* is t *
PRINT "X-Axim 4r oai ",LX," TO ",MX PRINT "Y-Axi* from " , LY , " TO " , HY INPUT "Sal act X -Ax i a lowar limit - M,LOX
INPUT "Salact X-Axia upper limit - ",HIX
IF HIX <- LOX THEN PRINT Efts GO TO 1040 INPUT "Salact Y-Axia lowar limit - ",LOY
INPUT "Salact Y-Axia upper limit - " , HI Y
IF HI Y <- LOY THEN PRINT E4i GO TO 1070 INPUT "Salact Y-Axia croaa-over (aa X) ■ ",0X IF OX > HIX THEN PRINT E4i GO TO 1090
IF OX < LOX THEN PRINT E4i GO TO 1090 .
INPUT "Salact X-Axia crosa-over (aa Y> - ",0Y
IF OY > HI Y THEN PRINT E4i GO TO 1120
IF OY < LOY THEN PRINT Eti GO TO 1120
INPUT "Salact X-Axia atap sizm - ",8X
INPUT "Salact Y-Axia atap aiza - ",8Y
LET IX - Oi LET IY - 0
IF OX - LOX THEN LET IX - 8
IF OY - LOY THEN LET IY - 8
LET XS - (256 - IX) /(HIX - LOX)i LET Y8 - (168 - IY)/<HIY - LOY) LET RX - 8X * XSi LET RY - BY * YS
LET X - IX ♦ <0X - LOX ) *X8i LET Y - IY ♦ (OY - LOY) •YB ♦ 8 PAPER 5* INK 6i BRIGHT 1
CLSi PLOT IX, Yi DRAW 255 - IX, Ol PLOT X, IY ♦ 8i DRAW 0,167 - IY FOR M - IX TO 255 - IX STEP RX PLOT M,Y - 4 i DRAW 0,8
FOR M - IY ♦ 0 TO 167 - IY STEP RY PLOT X - 4, Hi DRAW 8,0 NEXT M
1000 Chart drawing routine. Displays X and Y data range.
1030 Select range of axes.
1 090 Select point where Y-axis crosses X-axis. X origin.
1 1 20 Select point where X-axis crosses Y-axis. Y origin.
1 1 50 Select distance between axial marks.
1 1 62 Calculate indent for X and/or Y If either origin is zero.
1 1 70 Calculate X and Y scaling factor
Absolute mark steps. Absolute origin.
1 1 95 Set display colours. Draw axes
1210 Draw marks for X-axis.
1230 Draw marks for Y-axis.
PCNProgramCards
Chart Generator Card 3 of 3
8302SCG33
1250 INPUT "Arm thm sum m cermet'’.", AA
1260 IF At • MN" THEN INK Ol PAPER 7» CLSi GO TO iOOO
1270 IF A* <> -Y- THEN PRINT Eti GO TO 1250
1200 INPUT "Bmlmct <L)ir»m or <B)*r chart", At
1290 IF At - "L" THEN GO TO 1500
1300 IF At <> "B" THEN PRINT Eti GO TO 1200
1310 INK 3i BRIGHT 1
1320 FOR B - 1 TO L
1330 LET PX - (8 (B, 1 ) - L0X)*X8 ♦ IX* LET PY - (B(B,2> - L0Y)*Y8 ♦ IV ♦ 0 1340 PLOT PX , Y i DRAW 0,PY - Y
1350 NEXT B _ _ _ _
1360 INPUT < "X i " I LOX I " TO "»HIX|" BY "|SX|" Y»"|LOY|" TO "|HIY|" BY "|8Y» (R)m run or (N)ot"), At
1370 IF At - "R" THEN INK 0« PAPER 7i CLSi GO TO 1000 1380 IF At <> "N" THEN PRINT Eti GO TO 1360 1390 INK Ol PAPER 7i CLSi RETURN 1500 INK 3i BRIGHT 1
1510 LET PX - (8(1,1) - LOX)*XS ♦ IXl LET PY - <8(1, 2) - LOY)*YS ♦ IY ♦ 8 1520 PLOT PX , PY 1530 FOR C - 2 TO L
1540 LET PX - ( (8 (C, 1 ) - LOX)*XS «■ IX) - <<8(C - 1,1) - LOX)*XS ♦ IX)
1550 LET PY - ( (8 (C, 2) - L0Y)*Y8 ♦ IY ♦ 0) - <(8<C - 1,2) - LOY)*YB ♦ IY ♦ 8)
1560 DRAW PX , PY 1570 NEXT C 1500 GO TO 1360
2000 CLSi PRINT "NO. X Y"i LET CT - 1
2010 FOR B - 1 TO L
2020 PRINT Bt TAB 41 S(B,1)I TAB 161 S(B,2)
2030 IF CT - 20 THEN INPUT "Nmxt ptgm - Prmm* mny kmy", Ati LET CT - 0
2040 LET CT - CT ♦ 1 2050 NEXT B 2060 RETURN
1250 Prompt. If "hT re-enter axial parameters. "Y’\ continue.
1280 Select type of chart.
1 31 0 Bar chart routine. Set bar colour.
1 320 Extract data from array S. Calculate and draw bars until data exhausted.
1 360 Display axial data and accept input for change of axes or return to main-line.
1 500 Une chart routine (X must be in
ascending order in array S). Set line colour. Plot first point
1 530 Extract data from Array S. Calculate relative positions and draw continuous line until data exhausted.
2000 Display data routine — 20 statistics per page. Press any key to see next page. Continues until data exhausted Returns to main-line.
PCN MAR 25. 1983
I t ih ijH W. Of. //_/-'/-
MICROSPHERE COMPUTER SERVICES LTD 72 ROSEBERY ROAD LOflDOH HIO 2LA TELEPHONE 01-883 94 1 1
EVOLUTION (48K Spectrum)
Can you Trace the course of evolution?
Start with primaeval soup & end up with man? Survive the odd maior disaster?
Should be easy after all it’s been done before'
Only £6 95
OMNICALC (48K Spectrum)
The best spreadsheet analysis program you can buy for the Spectrum Uses include financial planning, home budgets etc Features 99 columns or 250 rows Fully prompted input Extensive repeat facilities Conditional expressions and RND Totalling and sub-totalling Comprehensive manual
£995
ZX-SIDEPRINT (For Spectrum or ZX81)
Print sideways on the ZX-Printer to give proper 80/132 etc character print lines
Easy to add to existing programs Routines to take print lines direct from screen Lower case letters even on a ZX81'
(State version req'd) £4 95
CREVASSE A HOTFOOT H6K Spectrum)
2 original games from Microsphere Can you make it across the ice cap whilst chasms open and close all around?
Help the rabbit get to fields full of carrots but remember the plumper the rabbit the greater the danger
Excellent value £4 95
Tidy up your BBC Computer.
Television — Cassette Recorder — Single or Double Disc Drive
All accommodated on a professional console This robust GRP Console also has provision for 10 cassettes and a foolscap notepad.
Size: 27V2in (700mm) x 31 V2in (800mm)
A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT at £39.95 INCLUSIVE OFP&P
Cheque or PO to:
LAMPLAS (DURHAM) LTD
7/9 RAMSAY STREET, HIGH SPEN ROWLANDS GILL, TYNE & WEAR
DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED ZX AND ORIC CONSOLES AVAILABLE SHORTLY
Flight simulator
DRAGON 32
Cassettes
MRC
Air combat and ground strike, “joystick” controlled sights cannon fire and bomb release. Full colour hi-res graphics 3D and sound £6.50 inc. p&p.
Fruit
Compulsive, addictive, fruit machine. Using your skill with the holds, turn your £5 stake into £10 and beat x the system. Hi-res graphics and sound. £4.05 inc. p&p Look and Learn
Educational picture recognition. Hi-res graphics, text and colour. Age 3-10yrs £4.05 inc. p&p.
Pontoon
Super Hi-res graphics, full colour definition and card display. Fascinating, absorbing £4.05 inc. p&p. DRAGON and ORIC “ JUNIPER " word processor, comprehensive edit facilities, menu and cursor driven /£25.00 inc. p&p
Tango Foxtrot 01
Using your skill, locate the airstrip with the radar scanner, fly your aircraft through hazardous crosswinds and air pockets to land safely. Watch your fuel; watch your artificial horizon; be sure you are level on final approach. Full colour, hi-res graphics,
3D and sound. £6.50 inc p&p
I QUARK DATA P.O. BOX 61 , Swindon, Wilts. Tel. (0793) 40661 . | Please supply .
| Cheque for total amount enclosed
| Name .
I Address
70
PCN MAR 25. 1983
PCN MAR25.19K3
*Whidi„PR INTER f ^What COMPUTED
^MicroGeneral the specialists for Printer Selection
Contact us for our expert advice on all your Interfacing problems
It’s not just a question of plug in and lets go. There are now over 200 different connector situations. How do you know that your computer will accept the printer of your choice? We at Micro General ^ do not sell boxes off the shelf. As computer engineers we help you to choose and install the right printer for your computer. The advice is free and it could save you some embarrassing mistakes — Buy from us for peace of mind.
EPSON MATRIX PRINTERS
■ Prica From S' ■£298 / 1+ vat ^ |
|
RX 80 f ractor only 1 00 CPS |
£298 -F vat |
FX 80 160 CPS |
£438-1- vat |
MX 100 100 CPS full width |
£499 -F vat |
Call for details of Sprinter 32K buff |
|
adaptor unit from £249+vat |
MICROLINE RANGE
1 £21 1 + vat
Microline 80 80cps £211+ vat
Microline 82A 120cps £370 + vat
Microline 83A 120cps £529+ vat
Microline 84 200cps £847+vat
(The M84 has High Res Graphics plus Near Letter Quality Print)
NEW ADO! TUN'S TO TNI MICROUNE FAMILY (All with Near Letter Quality Printing and High Resolution Graphics)
Microline 92 160cps £476+vat
(80 cols at 10 cpi)
Microline 93 160cps £688+ vat
Full Width (136 cols at 10 cpi)
TRIUMPH-ADLERTRD 170S ^ DAISY WHEEL PRINTER
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LOW COST QUALITY PRINTER
• Amazingly quiet for the office environment
• Serial or Parallel Interface
• Tractor Feed & Single Sheet Feeder available
• Character Pitch 10. 12, 15 cpi & Proportional
i
I C r O ■ Always call for the best possible price Cl S Access/Visa
'eneral (Dept pcn33) 6 The Birchwoodsjilehurst, Reading, RG3 5UH Tel: 0734 25226
SOFTWARE LIBRARY
LIFE MEMBERSHIP £10 HIRE FEES £1 + 25p p&p PER PROGRAM PER FORTNIGHT
ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN OUR LIBRARY WITH THE MANUFACTURER’S PERMISSION!
We aim to be the biggest and best Software Library service for the Dragon
Send membership fee for:
Membership Card, Regular Dragon Fact Sheet, Sofware List and Order Form
SAE for details
JOYSTICKS FOR DRAGON 32. Analogue Type with fire button, attractively styled for maximum reliability and ease of use — £8 plus 50p p&p each.
DUST COVERS. Soft PVC with black piping to protect your Dragon — £3.50 + 30p p&p.
HI-RES GRAPHICS PLAN SHEET. Map out your Hi res graphics display for perfect results on your Dragon — £2.90 + 50p p&p.
SYSTEMS SAC. Foam lined nylon bag with extra foam inserts. Strong carry handle/shoulder strap. Transport your Dragon and Accessories with full protection — £20 + £1 p&p.
MASTER PLUG. Compact 4-way multi-plug complete with mains plug and 4 extension plugs. Good value at £9.50 + £1 p&p.
BLANK Cl 2 CASSETTES — high quality batch certified. 1 2 months’ guarantee, 60p.
DRAGON COMPANION. Essential reading for serious programmers. Includes description of all 14 resolution modes, processor speeds, easier input of machine code, Rom routines, adding your own commands to basic, disassembler listing. £5 + 35p p&p.
1 OAKWOOD ROAD, RODE HEATH, STOKE-ON-TRENT. Telephone: (09363) 5695
72
PCN MAR25, 1983
DATABASES
This week PCN Databasics lists software packages We can't fit them all in so we've compiled a selection, giving best sellers from 100 publishers and distributors We confined coverage to five main types of applications: business, education, games, home and utility. All details published are the latest available.
Companies wanting to add their best-selling packages to Databasics. or wanting to update information already here, should send details to: Databasics. Personal Computer News. VNU. 62 Oxford Street. London W1A 2HG.
APPLICATION Each software package is listed alphabetically by its application. PRICE includes VAT
MACHINE OPERATING SYSTEM on which the best selling package runs.
OTHER VERSIONS indicates whether or not the package runs on a different machine or operating system.
MEDIA SUPPLIED indicates in what format the package comes — either cassette, disk or cartridge.
MAIL ORDER AVAILABLE tells you whether or not the package is available by mail order.
HARDWARE REQUIRED shows the need for special hardware such as disk drive, joystick or printer.
PUBLISHER DISTRIBUTOR This code refers to the distributor code table which will give the name and telephone number of the publisher distributor.
COMMENTS any other points of interest.
SOFTWARE
BUSINESS
Hardware
Required
Accounting |
£3.320 |
Apple II |
• J |
Financial Controller |
48K |
• |
SI |
Also on Apple ME 8 modules (£402 50 each) — sales, purchase, invoicing, etc |
||||||
£339 25 |
Apple II |
General Ledger |
48K |
• |
Cl |
Supports 1000 accounts and 100 analyses Self-balancing, full audit trail |
||||||||
£552 |
Apple II |
Informex Integrated Accounting System |
48K |
• |
n |
Contains nominal, sales, purchase ledger - VAT Can handle 800 accounts |
||||||||
£1.147 70 |
Apple II |
Informex Integrated Business System |
48K |
• |
n |
Contains accounting system modules plus invoicing + stock |
||||||||
£172 50 |
Apple II |
Micro-General Ledger |
48K |
• |
G1 |
Also on ITT 3030 and Basis 108 Goes through profit loss * balance sheets |
||||||||
£402 50 |
Apple II |
Nominal Ledger |
64K |
J |
• |
J1 |
Also on Sirius. IBM PC, Apple III + UCSD. Requires 132 column printer |
|||||||
£431 25 |
Apple II |
Payroll |
48K |
• |
Cl |
Supports weekly, monthly. + per monthly Up to 350 employees per disk |
||||||||
£402 50 |
Apple II |
Purchase Accounting & Cost Control |
64K |
• |
J1 |
Requires 132 column printer, also Sirius. IBM PC. Apple III. UCSD. |
||||||||
£402 50 |
Apple II |
Sales Accounting System |
64K |
J1 |
Also on Sirius. IBM PC. UCSD Provides conventional ledger |
|||||||||
£339 25 |
Apple II |
' 4 |
Sales Ledger |
48K |
• |
Cl |
Supports 700 + accounts. Direct posting, credit control & 100 analyses, self balancing |
|||||||
£1.725 |
Commodore 8000 |
Auditman |
32K |
• |
C4 |
Also on Commodore 4000 Complete accounts production system |
||||||||
£1.552 25 |
Commodore 8000 |
Businessman |
32K |
• |
C4 |
Also on Commodore 4000 Can be used with Auditman 5 modules |
||||||||
£2.025 75 |
Commodore 8000 |
Data Lex |
32K |
• |
D1 |
Designed for solicitors + others who need to separate office & client s accounts |
||||||||
£345 |
Commodore 8000 |
Microfacts |
32K |
• |
• |
Ml |
Also on Victor & Sirius £345 per module Needs hard disk Integrated accounting |
|||||||
£454 25 |
Commodore 8000 |
V |
Micro-simplex |
32K |
• |
• |
M2 |
Also on Commodore 64 (£1 72 50) Needs printer For smaller retail business |
||||||
£2.300 |
Commodore 4000 |
Pegasus Integrated Accounting Suite |
32K |
• |
P3 |
Also on MS-DOS (128K). Contains six stand alone modules |
||||||||
£1.437 50 |
CP M |
Aurora Integrated Accounting Package |
64K |
• |
• |
G1 |
Five stand alone modules Sales, invoicing, purchase, nominal and stock |
|||||||
£2.760 |
CP M |
Boss |
64K |
• |
FI |
Seven stand alone modules Can link to Autowriter & Autoindex |
||||||||
£805 |
CP M |
Cash Book Accounting |
64K |
: |
• |
• |
S2 |
Also on CP M-86 and MS-DOS Amalgamation of sales, purchase & nominal ledger |
||||||
£2.300 00 |
CP M |
dBFlex |
48K |
• |
• |
El |
Open item six module accounting system. (£575.00) per module Works with dBase II |
|||||||
£402 50 |
CP M |
Exact |
64K |
• |
• |
S3 |
Also on MS-DOS Includes six modules — invoicing, ledgers, stock and payroll |
|||||||
£37375 |
CP M |
Fast Nominal |
60 K |
• |
• |
• |
T1 |
Also on MS-DOS Needs 132 character printer Can define up to 99 report layouts |
||||||
£3.059 |
CP M |
ISBS-W |
64K |
• |
• |
G2 |
Comes on hard disk Contains ISBS functions plus job costing and purchase control |
|||||||
£1.840 |
CP M |
ISBS-S |
48K |
• |
• |
G2 |
Also on CP M-86 Contains seven modules |
|||||||
£2.271 25 |
CP M |
l • |
Multi- Index |
64K |
1 L . |
• |
• |
81 1 |
AlsoonMP M& PC-DOS Contains five modules Sales, nominal. VAT& stock control |
|||||
£569 25 |
CP M |
Nucleus |
64K |
i |
• |
• |
C2 |
Also on MS-DOS Disk drives of 280K needed A program generating system |
||||||
£1.431 75 |
CP M |
Padmede Business Control System |
64K |
* |
• |
• |
P2 |
Five modules (£286 35 per module) Nominal, sales, purchase, invoicing, stock |
||||||
£1.380 |
CP M |
Motor Dealers Part Distribution |
64K |
i |
• |
• |
S2 |
Also on CP M 86 & MS-DOS Combines stock control, order processing ledgers |
||||||
£1.868 75 |
CP M |
Peachtree Basic Accounting Systems |
48K |
• |
• |
PI |
Also on MP M & MS-DOS Available on hard disk (£2. 1 56 25) 5 stand alone modules. |
Price me vat |
Machine Operating System |
s |
Memory required |
Media Supplied |
I ! t |
Hardware Required |
Publisher/ Distributor |
j |
||||||
Cassette |
1 |
| |
I 1 |
I |
i |
|||||||||
£287 50 |
CP M |
Sales Ledger |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
S2 |
Also on CP M 86 and MS-DOS Flexible ledger system |
||||||
£4542 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Easy VAT |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
K1 |
Also on Sharp M280B & M200K VAT record system. |
||||||
Agriculture |
£1.150 |
Apple II |
Dairy Package |
64K |
• |
• |
F2 |
Available on floppy or hard disk Files individual cow production, with herd summaries |
||||||
£1,725 |
Apple II |
Financial Management Program |
64K |
• |
• |
F2 |
Available on floppy or hard disk. Accounts for farm estate management |
|||||||
£1.150 |
Apple II |
Management Program |
64K |
• |
• |
F2 |
Available on floppy or hard disk. Monitors individual field activities, budgets, etc |
|||||||
Bill of Materials |
£373.75 |
CP M |
Fastbill |
60 K |
• |
• |
• |
T2 |
Also on MS-DOS & TRS-DOS Will give parts explosion at 10 levels, 99 items level |
|||||
Bookeeper |
£56 35 |
Apple II |
Apple Bookeeper |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
HI |
Needs printer Keeps petty cash, sales, other business books, sorts, analysis etc. |
||||
Building Specifications |
£460 |
Commodore 8000 |
National Building Specifications |
32K |
• |
• |
• |
C3 |
Also on Commodore 4000 Used with Wordcraft Produces building specifications. |
|||||
Business Management |
£4.140 |
CP M |
Peach tree Business Management System |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
PI |
Also on MP M & Unix. Available on hard disk (£6.900). Six modules for single user |
|||||
Cataloguing |
£46 00 |
Apple II |
F'oppy Cat |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
Enables user to catalogue & store all information |
|||||
Estate Agents |
£1.092 50 |
Apple II |
Commercial Agency Systems |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
C7 |
Matches in both directions with lists, labels and letters |
|||||
£977 50 |
Apple II |
Cyderpress Clients Recoverable Costs |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
C7 |
Also on Rair Black Box Designed to keep record of incurred expenditures |
||||||
£1.121 00 |
Apple II |
Cyderpress Residential System |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
C7 |
Also on Rair Black Box An applicant & property matching system |
||||||
£419.75 |
CP M |
Estate Agents Match & Mail |
56K |
• |
• |
• |
S4 |
Matches & prints out potential customers for every property. |
||||||
Financial Accounting |
£1.926.25 |
CP M |
Fast Range |
60K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
T1 |
Also on MS-DOS & TRS-DOS Needs 132 character pnnter 5 modules |
||||
Financial Planning |
£44 85 |
Commodore Pet |
Busicalc |
16K |
• |
• |
S5 |
Also on Commodore 3. 4. & 8000. Vic-20 and Commodore 64 £46 57 on floppy disk |
||||||
£569 25 |
Commodore 8000 |
Finplan |
32K |
• |
• |
M3 |
Also on Hytec A ICL PC 96K version available Helps decide on financial strategy |
|||||||
£287 50 |
Commodore 8096 |
Financial Director |
96K |
• |
• |
P5 |
Designed to handle large & complex planning & financial applications |
|||||||
£188 60 |
Apple II |
VisiCalc |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
R1 |
Also on Apple III. Commodore & IBM PC. etc The classic spreadsheet |
|||||
£345 00 |
CP M |
Bottom-Line Strategist |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
A business protect forecasting program Allows user to test business assumptions. |
||||||
£454 25 |
CP M |
Fastplan |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
C5 |
Needs double density disks A file based modelling system for business planners |
||||||
£281 75 |
CP M |
Master Planner |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
C5 |
Also on MS-DOS & CP M 86 Needs 80 column printer Upgrade of a spread sheet |
||||||
£396 75 |
CP M |
Micro Plan |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
Bl |
Also on MP M Spreadsheet financial planner |
||||||
£343 85 |
CP M |
Minimodel Financial Modelling |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
G1 |
Needs 80 column screen Model consolidation facility, colour option |
|||||
£182 85 |
CP M |
• |
Multi-Plan |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
Also on PC-DOS. Cromix. Fortune. Corvus A Sirius. Second generation spreadsheet |
|||||
£44 85 |
CP M |
Plannercalc |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
C5 |
Needs 80 column screen Entry level system for spreadsheet planning |
|||||
£218.50 |
CP M |
SP2020 |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
G2 |
Forecast effects of proposed actions Aid to management decision-making |
||||||
£172 50 |
CPM |
Supercalc |
128K |
• |
• |
A1 |
Electronic worksheet, representing a large flexible accounting work pad |
|||||||
£212.75 |
CP M |
Super Calculator |
48K |
• |
•1 |
• |
El |
Spreadsheet calculator |
||||||
£178 25 |
CPM |
T-Maker |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
LI |
Utility for analysis & presentation of numerical data & test material |
||||||
£224 25 |
MS-DOS |
Pulsar Business System |
128K |
• |
• |
A1 |
Consists of eight integrated packages & provides commercial accounting functions |
|||||||
£339 25 |
Osborne |
• |
PADAC |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
P2 |
Also on CP M. Two systems Incomplete records accounting, time cost recording |
|||||
£632 50 |
UCSD-PSystem |
M . . . nes ,. |
128K |
• |
• |
• |
D1 |
Financial modelling program for businessmen |
||||||
£741 75 |
UCSD-P System |
• |
Micro-Modeller |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
12 |
Also on CP M & MS-DOS Designed for large corporations. |
|||||
Industrial Costing |
£747.50 |
Apple II |
• |
Stock & Production Costing |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
A2 |
Also on Apple HE & III & Sirius. Available on hard disk. Needs Pascal system |
|||
Insurance Accounting |
£1.380 |
Commodore 4000 |
• |
Insurance Man |
32K |
• |
• |
C4 |
Also in Commodore 8000. provides insurance broker with sales ledger |
|||||
Insurance Broking |
£5.462 50 |
ICL DRS20 |
HS-100 |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
H2 |
Requires 16 or 27 Mb hard disk to run off Maintains client & policy records |
||||
Integrated Software |
£569 25 |
IBM PC |
Context MBA |
256K |
• |
• |
B2 |
Also on Sirius A Victor Comprises word processor database management system |
||||||
£908 50 |
Commodore 8000 |
• |
Silicon Office |
256K |
• |
• |
FI |
Integrated spreadsheet modelling, graphics. WP. database A communications. |
||||||
Invoicing |
£323 75 |
CPM |
• |
Fast Invoicing |
60 K |
• |
• |
• |
T1 |
Also on MS-DOS A TRS-DOS Can link into Fast Sales A Fast Stock |
||||
Linear Programming |
£373.75 |
CPM |
• |
Optimiser |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
C6 |
Also on Apple Management tool for optimizing the deployment of scarce resources |
||||
Local Authority |
£862 50 |
Commodore 8000 |
• |
PUS WA |
96K |
• |
• |
M3 |
Also on Hytec Monitors road holes under Public Utilities Street Work Act (1950). |
|||||
£569 25 |
Commodore 8000 |
Road Register |
96K |
• |
• |
M3 |
D-base network based on road names Modules (£373.75) on street lighting etc |
|||||||
Mailing |
£8625 |
CPM |
Mailing List |
56K |
• |
• |
• |
S4 |
Works with Super file Prints labels, files, names A addresses Mail merge facility |
|||||
Mwgwrunt |
£226 16 |
CPM |
• |
Scratch Pad 3.0 |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
M4 |
Also on CP M 86. MS-DOS A PC-DOS Spreadsheet using virtual memory |
||||
Mathematics |
£28 75 |
Commodore Pet |
• |
Infinite Arithmetic |
16K |
• |
• |
S5 |
Also on Commodore 3000. 4000 A 8000 Available on floppy disk |
|||||
Medical |
£517.50 |
Apple II |
• |
Medical System |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
A 2 |
Also on Apple HE. III A Sirius (£573.85) On hard disk Age sex register |
||||
Office Information |
£402 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Prophet II |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
A4 |
Also on IBM PC A Corvus Concept Information system which acts as a noticeboard |
||||
Payroll |
£69 00 |
Apple II |
Payroll |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
HI |
Also available as cassette for Spectrum ZX81 (£25 00) Needs printer |
£287 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Tabs Payroll |
48K |
• |
T3 |
Also on CP M & MS-DOS (64K) Up to 2000 employees, nine pay schemes. |
|||||||
£977 50 |
CP M |
• |
Powerday |
48K |
• |
• |
02 |
Also on MP M and MS-DOS Integrates with Omicrons nominal ledger Handles SSR |
||||||
Project Management |
£747 00 |
IBM PL |
• |
Micronet |
48K |
• |
• |
T2 |
Also on ICL PC. Sinus, Superbrain. Apple II. & others Critical path analysis |
|||||
Project Planning |
£1.150 00 |
Commodore 8000 |
Hornet |
32K |
• |
• |
C3 |
Has eight optional variants (all eight £4.025) Network logic & variety of screen display |
||||||
Property Management |
£51750 |
Apple II |
• |
Property Management System |
48K |
• |
• |
A2 |
Also on Apple III. Apple HE & Sirius. Prints rent reminders, demands etc |
|||||
Purchase Ledger |
£287 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Tabs Purchase Ledger |
48K |
• |
• |
T3 |
Also on CP M & MS-DOS (64K) Open item ledger — automatic payment facility, etc |
|||||
£805 00 |
CP M |
• |
Powerbought |
48K |
• |
• |
02 |
Also on MP M & MS-DOS Integrates with Omicron s Nominal Ledger System |
||||||
Sales Ledger |
£287 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Tabs Sales Ledger |
48K |
• |
F |
• |
T3 |
Also on CP M & MS-DOS Part of integrated system 300 analysis codes |
||||
£373 75 |
CP M |
• |
Fast Sales |
60 K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
T1 |
Also on MS-DOS & TRS DOS Needs 132 character printer Part of Fast Range |
||||
£805 00 |
CP M |
• |
Powersales |
48K |
• |
• |
02 |
Also on MP M & MS-DOS Multi-user system based on mainframe software |
||||||
£325 |
DEC Rainbow 100 |
• |
Sales Ledger System |
64K |
• |
F |
• |
D2 |
Also on DEC Mate II. Invoicing & monthly statement generating system |
|||||
Sales Order Processing |
£805 00 |
CP M |
• |
Compact Sales Order Processing |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
C2 |
Also on CP M 80. 86 & MS-DOS Comes on hard disk Control, stock, ledgers |
||||
Sales. Purchase. Nominal Ledger |
£1.207 50 |
CP M |
• |
Compact Sales. Purchase & Nominal Ledger |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
C2 |
Also on CP M 80. 86 & MS-DOS Follows Standard accounting procedures |
||||
Sick Pay |
£80 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
HI |
Mso on Spectrum Does all SSP calculations |
||||
Statistics |
£172 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Inter-Stat |
48K |
• |
F |
G1 |
Also on Basis 108 & ITT 3030 Needs printer |
|||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Statistical Analysis |
48K |
• |
• |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Calculates mean & standard deviation for up to 100 items |
||||||
£1500 |
Sinclair ZX81 |
• |
Critical Path Analysis (CPA) |
8K |
• |
HI |
Also on Spectrum (16K) Activities entered from arrow diagram Finds critical path |
|||||||
£977 50 |
UCSD-P System |
Trend Plot |
128K |
F |
• |
F |
F |
P5 |
Needs Hewlett Packard Plotter Developed to analyse historical time senes data |
|||||
Stock Control |
£373 75 |
CP M |
• |
Fast Stock |
60K |
• |
• |
• |
T1 |
Also on MS-DOS & TRS DOS Needs 1 32 character printer |
||||
£3.289 |
CP M |
M-SIS |
48K |
• |
T2 |
Stock control system for manufacturing industry |
||||||||
£3392 |
Newbrain |
Stock Control 40 4 |
32K |
F |
F |
E2 |
Stores large quantities of stock, accumulates new stock levels & checks stock level |
|||||||
£25 00 |
Sinclair Spectrum |
• |
Stock Control |
48K |
• |
HI |
Also ZX81 Fast fwd’add delete item Prints complete or selective lists & total value |
|||||||
Word Processing |
£228 85 |
Apple II |
Format 80 |
48K |
F |
F |
F |
P6 |
Also Apple HE. Needs 80 column card Storage retrieval of names & addresses |
|||||
£92 00 |
Apple II |
Piewriter |
48K |
• |
F |
• |
• |
M5 |
Needs 80 column card Allows entry, editing & print formatting of any text type |
|||||
£125 35 |
Apple II |
Wordhandler |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
Word processor for the non-professional — minimum Apple system |
||||||
£152 95 |
Apple III |
F |
Apple Writer 2 |
48K |
P6 |
Also Apple II Has word wrap, glossary & word processing language |
||||||||
£28 50 |
BBC Model B |
Alphabeta |
32K |
F |
F |
H3 |
Also available on disk Suitable for home & business |
|||||||
£1050 |
BBC Model B |
Word Pro |
32K |
• |
• |
14 |
Includes DELETE. INSERT. SAVE. Date etc |
|||||||
£90 85 |
Commodore 64 |
Infomast |
64K |
F |
• |
F |
R2 |
Combined programmable word processor. Database and calculator |
||||||
£89 00 |
Commodore 64 |
F |
Paperclip |
64 K |
• |
• |
A3 |
Also Commodore 8000 Compatible with WordPro & SpellPro |
||||||
£488 75 |
Commodore 8000 |
• |
Wordcraft |
32K |
F |
D1 |
Also on SuperPet & Sirius 1 Routine correspondence, mailing, proposals, contracts |
|||||||
£51 75 |
Commodore Pet |
• |
Papermate ♦ |
16K |
F |
F |
S5 |
Also on Commodore 64. 3. 4. & 8000 Available on floppy (£53 49) |
||||||
£125 00 |
Commodore BK-20 |
• |
Wordcraft 20 |
8K |
• |
• |
F |
A3 |
Also Commodore 64 — needs printer Comprehensive word processor |
|||||
£14500 |
CP M |
• |
Mail Merge |
64K |
F |
F |
XI |
Also on CP M 86 and PC-DOS An optional MERGE. PRINT, extra for Wordstar |
||||||
287 50 |
CP M |
• |
Peachtext |
48K |
• |
• |
F |
PI |
Also MP M & MS-DOS Needs high quality printer Contains proof reader |
|||||
£339 00 |
CP M |
• |
Perfect Writer Speller |
64K |
• |
F |
• |
S3 |
Also MS-DOS & Apple DOS Contains quick reference card |
|||||
£431 25 |
CP M |
• |
Select Word Processing System |
64K |
• |
• |
• |
B1 |
Also MP M & PC DOS Screen-oriented system |
|||||
£31625 |
CP M |
Spellbinder |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
El |
Also on Oasis Word processing & office management system |
||||||
£333 50 |
CP M |
WP2020 |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
G2 |
Menu-driven, machine independent Set of key-tops provided |
||||||
£225 00 |
IBM PC |
Easywriter II |
64K |
• |
• |
XI |
Bold face & underscoring on screen 80.000 word spell checker extra (£43 1 5) |
|||||||
£340 40 |
IBM PC |
VisiWord |
64K |
• |
• |
F |
R6 |
Needs printer |
||||||
£339 25 |
MS DOS |
F |
WordStar |
128K |
• |
• |
A1 |
Also on CP M Needs printer Complete screen-based WP |
||||||
£40 25 |
Newbrain |
Word Processor 40 1 2 |
32K |
• |
F |
E2 |
Automatic word wrap, editing, saving paragraphs, deleting |
|||||||
£325 00 |
OS9 |
Stylograph |
32K |
F |
F |
S6 |
Expandable system with modular design |
|||||||
£4542 |
Sharp MZ804 |
Wordpro |
48K |
F |
F |
K1 |
Also on MZ80B > K. Available on disk (£91 94) One of few WP packages for Sharp |
|||||||
£4995 |
Tartf^RS80l |
□ |
AJ Edit |
32K |
□ |
□ |
□ |
□ |
M6 |
Also on Genie 1 & II Need^rinte^^ |
EDUCATION
Basic Course |
£9 95 |
Texas Instruments 99 4 A |
Beginners Basic Tutor |
16K |
• |
• |
T5 |
Gives explanations and examples of Tl Basic — lets the user try |
||||||
£1395 |
Texas Instruments 99 4A |
Teach Yourself Extended Basic |
16K |
• |
• |
T5 |
Needs extended Basic module |
|||||||
Business Game |
£9 95 |
BBC Model A |
F |
Business Game |
16K |
• |
• |
W1 |
Also on Model B Two games for economics, business & general studies, teaching |
|||||
£6 84 |
BBC Model A |
• |
Inkosi |
32K |
• |
• |
C9 |
Also on Model B Rule for ten years, overcoming obstacles, e g famines |
||||||
Chemistry |
£14 38 |
Research Machine 380Z |
Symbols To Moles |
31K |
F |
• |
F |
H4 |
Also on Apple II Practise using chemical symbols, writing & mole concept |
|||||
Children |
£37 89 |
Apple II |
Bumble Plot |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
A set of five programs for developing graphics and maths skills For children 8 to 1 3 |
|||||
£29 84 |
Apple II |
F |
Face Hanger |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
Also on IBM PC Designed for children to learn computer keyboard by building up face |
|||||
£37 89 |
Apple II |
Gertrude s Secret |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
An educational game to teach logical thinking & planning For children aged 6-9 |
ll |
Machine Operating System |
i |
1 |
n It |
Media Supplied |
I ! i |
Hardware Required |
ll n |
i |
|||||
Cassette |
1 |
I |
1 2 |
I |
1 |
|||||||||
£9 80 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Jigsaw Puzzles |
16K |
T4 |
Also on Atari 800 Has 16 puzzles and optional difficulty |
||||||||
£11 40 |
BBC Model B |
L aNara |
32K |
C9 |
Designed for children aged 4-6 & for dyslexic & remedial children |
|||||||||
£11 40 |
BBC Model B |
• |
Metrics |
32K |
C9 |
Also on Vic-20. Vocabulary and structure of metric system, for children aged 10-15 |
||||||||
£6 84 |
BBC Model B |
• |
Pascal |
32K |
C9 |
Also on Vic-20 Shows construction of Pascal Triangle and tests on it. |
||||||||
£6 84 |
BBC Model B |
• |
Sequences |
32K |
C9 |
Also on Vic-20 Demonstrates number patterns |
||||||||
£6 50 |
BBC Model B |
The Early Stages |
32K |
H3 |
Reading aid Plays nursery rhymes Available on disk |
|||||||||
£450 |
BBC Model B |
Super Hangman |
32K |
14 |
Version of famous game High resolution graphics 800 words or enter own choice |
|||||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Tree ol Knowledge |
32K |
A9 |
Interactive program teaching categorisation Simplified information retrieval. |
|||||||||
£495 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Giant Maths |
32K |
S8 |
Also on MZ80K Big screen figures & humorous error messages 5 to 1 1 years |
||||||||
£4 95 |
Sharp MZ80A |
"#1 |
Rocket |
3K |
S8 |
Also on MZ80A Four difficulty levels For five to 1 1 year olds |
||||||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Teach Tables |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Plays like game but motivates children to improve their ability |
||||||||
£4 95 |
Sharp MZ80K |
• |
Master Builder |
48K |
S8 |
Also on MZ80A Repair a wall using random blocks Teaches spacing |
||||||||
Classroom Monitor |
£322 00 |
UCSD-P |
• |
Classroom Monitor |
64K |
T |
• |
K4 |
Also on Apple II Provides demonstration facilities & monitors student s progress |
|||||
Economics |
£28 75 |
Sharp MZ80K |
• |
Broadwater Economics Simulation |
16K |
W1 |
Also on Commodore Pet & BBC Simulates micro & macro economics |
|||||||
French |
£1438 |
Research Machine 380Z |
• |
Repondez |
31K |
V |
• |
H4 |
Also on Apple II Practising French verb formation (present tense) |
|||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
French Conjugate |
48K |
K1 |
Also on MZ80K Automatically conjugates regular verbs into tenses |
||||||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
French Verbs |
48K |
K1 |
Also on MZ80K. Allows user to impart up to 20 verbs & eight tenses at a time |
||||||||
Graphics |
£8 00 |
BBC Model B |
• |
Painter |
32K |
A5 |
Also on Spectrum (£5.75). Atom (£6 90) & on disk |
|||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Creative Graphics |
16K |
A9 |
Book available (£7 50) Designed to illustrate BBC graphics |
|||||||||
History |
£20 13 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Kings & Queens |
48K |
K1 |
Also on MZ80K Facts & figures on English monarchs since 1066 |
|||||||
Languages |
£7 95 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Multilinguist |
3K |
S8 |
Also on MZ80K A language tutor to suit all European languages |
|||||||
Mathematics |
£10 30 |
BBC Model B |
Angle |
32K |
C9 |
Includes four programes designed to teach simple geometry |
||||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model A |
• |
Algerbraic Manipulations |
16K |
W1 |
Also on Model B Includes four programs designed for use in maths teaching |
||||||||
£82 80 |
IBM PC |
Fact Track |
64K |
V |
• |
13 |
Learning basic arithmetic Presents simple two-line sums in random order |
|||||||
£46 00 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Curve Fitting |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Calculates, intercepts & plots power curve |
|||||||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Directed Numbers |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Teaches difficult mathematical functions |
|||||||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
V |
Divisor Advisor |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Teaches division at a variety of skill levels |
||||||||
£27 60 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Numerical Integration |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K & B Teaches Simpson s Rule |
||||||||
Meteorology |
£23 00 |
Research Machines 380Z |
• |
Weather |
31K |
• |
H4 |
Also on Apple II Gives synoptic charts Teaches elementary meteorology |
||||||
Morse Code |
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Morse Tutor |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Used to teach morse code by sight and sound At seven levels |
|||||||
Physics |
£1438 |
Research Machines 380Z |
• |
Lenses |
31K |
if |
H4 |
Also on Apple II Illustrates formation of images by lenses using ray diagrams |
||||||
£9 20 |
Sharp MZ80A |
V |
Casino Chips |
48K |
K3 |
Also on MZ80K Uses radioactive chips to teach half-life concept |
||||||||
Typing |
£2875 |
CP M |
• |
TouchnGo |
48K |
V |
•“ |
C6 |
Also on MS-DOS Typing tutor for mastering numeric pad & Qwerty keyboard |
|||||
£31 05 |
IBM PC |
Typing Tutor |
64K |
□ |
• |
r i3 i |
Presents exercises for learning touch typing or for improving existing skills |
|||||||
GAMES |
||||||||||||||
Adventure |
£17.95 |
Atari | • |
Arrow of Death |
16K |
• |
• |
C8 |
Also runs on TRS-80. BBC. Vic-20 A classic text adventure |
||||||
£7 99 |
BBC Model B |
• |
Adventure |
16K |
• |
• |
M7 |
Also runs on Atom Many rooms to explore and many hazards to overcome |
||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Philosopher s Quest |
16K |
• |
• |
W1 |
Progress through a world of fiendish puzzles |
|||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Sphinx |
16K |
• |
• |
W1 |
A classic adventure, moving through caves avoiding hazards to collect treasure |
|||||||
£1380 |
Commodore Pet |
V |
Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy |
32K |
• |
• |
S5 |
Also runs on Commodore 64. Vic-20. 3000. 4000, 8000 Invoiced, textual game |
||||||
£1840 |
Commodore Pet |
Pythonesque |
32K |
• |
•1 |
S5 |
Increasingly difficult textual game based on Monty Python Disk available (£20 12) |
|||||||
£24 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
River Rescue |
8K |
• |
• |
T4 |
Needs joystick Captain boat through treacherous rivers to rescue explorers |
|||||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Escape |
32K |
• |
• |
[• |
M16 |
Needs joystick A 3D maze game. Get clues from 1 5 rooms for code of elevator |
||||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Flipper |
32K |
• |
• |
M16 |
A game of intrigue and strategy Requires an agile mind and a lot of fore-thought |
|||||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Mansion Adventure |
32K |
• |
• |
M16 |
Wind your way through an old mansion picking up clues to find the diamond . |
|||||||
£7 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Wizard War |
32K |
• |
• |
S7 |
Needs joystick Magical combat for two to nine players; interactive duel |
|||||||
£35 00 |
IBM PC |
Adventure in Serema |
64K |
• |
13 |
Needs colour graphics adaptor and direct drive colour monitor for use |
||||||||
£6.90 |
One |
•“ |
Zodiac |
16K |
• |
• |
A5 |
Also runs on Atom A thinking persons adventure game |
||||||
£1207 |
Sharp MZ80A |
V |
Adventure |
48K |
• |
• |
K1 |
Also runs on Sharp MZ80B and MZ80K An interactive adventure game |
||||||
£1207 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Quest |
48K |
• |
• |
K1 |
Also runs on Sharp MZ80B and MZ80K Dungeons & Dragons type game |
£7 95 |
Sharp MZ80K |
• |
Nightmare Park |
48K |
• |
• |
S8 |
Also runs on MZ80A Cross Nightmare Park Every few steps play game or task |
||||||
£7.95 |
Sharp MZ80K |
• |
Tombs of Karnak |
48K |
• |
• |
S8 |
Also runs on MZ80A Bargain for items required before entering tombs |
||||||
£6.50 |
Spectrum |
Destroyer |
16K |
• |
• |
15 |
Destroy the varying alien invaders |
|||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Faust Folly |
16K |
• |
• |
A6 |
A 16K adventure with the same traps, magic, fiends, treasure as the 48K game |
|||||||
£1495 |
Spectrum |
The Hobbit |
48K |
• |
• |
M8 |
Object is to get treasure For one player Can instruct computer in ordinary English |
|||||||
£5.00 |
Spectrum |
• |
Orb |
16K |
• |
• |
15 |
Also runs on Dragon 32 and Commodore Vic-20 Explore labyrinth and destroy Orb |
||||||
£1000 |
Spectrum |
• |
Pimama |
48K |
• |
• |
A7 |
Also runs on Sinclair ZX81 . BBC 1 3. Dragon 32 Reviewed 1 8 3 83 |
||||||
£5 00 |
Spectrum |
• |
The Quest |
48K |
• |
• |
15 |
Also runs on Dragon 32 Fighting adventure game |
||||||
£5 00 |
Spectrum |
• |
Star Trek |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
15 |
Also runs on Dragon 32 and Commodore Vic-20 Hunt down the Klingon in space |
|||||
£595 |
Spectrum |
Slippery Sid |
16K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
S9 |
Needs joystic and keyboard to use Snake type game |
|||||
£1006 |
Tandy TRS-80 1 |
• |
Mysterious Adventurer |
16K |
• |
• |
M6 |
Also runs on Tandy TRS-80 III. Genie 1. II. Colour Genie and BBC B |
||||||
£3 95 |
Texas Instruments 99 4 A |
Chalice of Kalmar |
16K |
• |
• |
A8 |
The aim is to retrieve a chalice from a temple |
|||||||
£4 95 |
Texas Instruments 99 4 A |
Forbidden City |
16K |
• |
• |
A8 |
You have to explore a deserted alien city with many hazards on the way |
|||||||
£3 95 |
Texas Instruments 99 4 A |
Sorcerers Castle |
16K |
• |
• |
A8 |
You are trying to rescue the captured princess |
|||||||
£7.50 |
BBC Model B |
Atlantis |
32K |
• |
• |
14 |
Guide submarine through caverns & destroy enemy |
|||||||
Arcade Game |
£9 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Night Crawler |
5K |
• |
• |
R2 |
A Centipede style game Fast action, graphics and sound effects |
||||||
£5 50 |
Spectrum |
• |
Arcadia |
16K |
• |
• |
16 |
Also on Commodore Vic-20 12 levels of aliens attacking in different ways |
||||||
£595 |
Spectrum |
Ground Attack |
16K |
• |
• |
S9 |
Variable speeds allows this game to be played by everyone |
|||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Orbiter |
16K |
• |
• |
S9 |
The only version of this Defender style game that is available for the Spectrum |
|||||||
£595 |
Spectrum |
Cyber Rats |
16K |
• |
• |
• |
• |
S9 |
Needs joystick and keyboard to run. |
|||||
Asteroids Type |
£4 95 |
Spectrum |
Meteor Storm |
16K |
• |
01 |
Progressive difficulty, variety of controls |
|||||||
£6 95 |
Spectrum |
Time-Gate |
48K |
• |
• |
01 |
Time travel. 3D graphics, colour, cockpit view and instrument display |
|||||||
£495 |
ZX81 |
Asteroids |
4K |
• |
• |
S9 |
Fast moving, suitable for all ages |
|||||||
Centipede Game |
£7.99 |
Dragon 32 |
Caterpillar |
32K |
• |
• |
• |
M16 |
A new generation munching game |
|||||
Chess Game |
£7 99 |
BBC Model B |
Chess |
16K |
• |
• |
M7 |
Machine code, high resolution graphics with many play options |
||||||
£24 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Cyrus Chess |
32K |
r# |
D3 |
Won European microcomputer chess championship 1981 Nine levels of difficulty |
||||||||
£1450 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Chess |
48K |
• |
• |
K1 |
Also on Sharp MZ80B & MZ80K 1 4 levels of difficulty |
||||||
£4295 |
Texas Instruments 99 4A |
Chess |
16K |
• |
• |
T5 |
Different difficulty levels Will solve problems Can teach chess |
|||||||
Darts |
£1999 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Darts |
8K |
• |
• |
T4 |
Also on 800 Aim & throw — the computer does the arithmetic |
|||||
Defender Type |
£22 80 |
Atari 400 800 |
• |
Submarine Commander |
16K |
• |
• |
T4 |
One player Nine levels of difficulty Destroy shipping Oxygen levels, fuel etc |
|||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Planetoid |
32K |
• |
• |
A9 |
A game of speed & skill Available on floppy disk (£1 1 50) |
|||||||
£7 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Alien Blitz |
5K |
• |
• |
• |
A3 |
Needs joystick to run Difficulty levels, colour & sound |
||||||
£9 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Anmhilator |
3K |
• |
• |
• |
R2 |
Based on Defender |
||||||
£6 95 |
Spectrum |
Penetrator |
48K |
• |
• |
M8 |
Two levels of difficulty difficulty |
|||||||
£21 95 |
TI99 4A |
Parsec |
16K |
• |
• |
T5 |
Increasingly difficult After four onslaughts pass through to next stage |
|||||||
Flight Simulator |
£22 80 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Jumbo Jet Pilot |
16K |
• |
• |
T4 |
Also Atari 800 Ten difficulty levels View through cockpit with flight instrumentation |
|||||
£7 95 |
Spectrum |
• |
Flight Simulation |
48K |
• |
• |
S10 |
Also on ZX81 (£5 95) Shows control panel & control view |
||||||
£17 20 |
Tandy TRS-80 |
• |
Jumbo |
16K |
• |
• |
M6 |
Also on Genie 1. II & BBC Model B Simulation of piloting a Jumbo |
||||||
£3 95 |
Texas Instruments 99 4 A |
Bomber |
16K |
• |
• |
A8 |
Also available on disk Must land plane & bomb skyscrapers |
|||||||
Football |
£29 99 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Kick Back |
8K |
• |
• |
T4 |
Also available on Atari 800 Needs joystick to run Beat the high score |
|||||
£1955 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Soccer |
8K |
• |
T4 |
Also on Atari 800 Aerial view of field Reviewed 1 1 .3 83 |
|||||||
Frogger Type |
£5.50 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Wacky Waiters |
35K |
• |
16 |
Waiter serving drinks in hotel Has to hop from lift to lift |
|||||||
£9 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Hopper |
3K |
• |
• |
• |
R2 |
A version of Frogger |
||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Horace Goes Ski-ing |
16K |
• |
• |
S10 |
Sequel to Hungry Horace He must cross busy road, fetch skis & ski down slope |
|||||||
Golf |
£7 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Golf |
32K |
• |
• |
S7 |
For one or two players Full handicapping system |
||||||
£375 |
Spectrum |
Golf |
16K |
• |
• |
• |
R3 |
For one or two players Choice of nine or 13 holes |
||||||
£3 75 |
Sinclair ZX81 |
Golf |
16K |
• |
• |
• |
R3 |
Similar to other golf games, in black and white |
||||||
Helicopter |
£24 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
• |
Chop Lifter |
8K |
• |
• |
• |
A3 |
Also on Commodore 64 Needs joystick to run. Vic version of USA s best-seller |
||||
Jigsaw |
£1499 |
Atari 400 |
• |
British Heritage Jigsaw Puzzle |
8K |
• |
T4 |
Also on Atari 800 Educational game with selective difficulty |
||||||
Kong Type |
£7 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Bonzo |
8K |
• |
• |
• |
A3 |
Workman dodges robots on split-level Sound & full graphics |
|||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Donkey King |
32K |
• |
• |
• |
M16 |
Popular arcade game |
||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Monsters |
• |
• |
W1 |
The player has to run up & down ladders & along walls, pursued by monsters |
||||||||
Maze Type |
£2495 |
Dragon 32 |
Ghost Attack |
N/A |
• |
• |
D3 |
The aim is to avoid & eliminate ghosts which roam a maze |
||||||
£595 |
Spectrum |
Hungry Horace |
16K |
• |
• |
S10 |
Animated maze game with sound & full graphics |
|||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Muncher |
16K |
• |
• |
S9 |
A monster munching marathon |
Pnce inc vat |
Machine Operating System |
Other versions 1 |
~r |
Media Supplied |
i' |
Hardware 1 Required | |
fi n |
Comments |
||||||
H |
1 |
1 |
s |
! i |
1 2 |
I |
l |
|||||||
£8 00 |
Spectrum |
Spectres |
16K |
B3 |
An increasingly difficult maze game The object is to fit light bulbs & destroy ghosts |
|||||||||
£1000 |
Sinclair ZX81 |
Mazogs |
16K |
B3 |
Three levels. Find & collect treasure in a maze & escape |
|||||||||
Miscellaneous |
£29 95 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Picnic Paranoia |
16K |
C8 |
Also on Atari 800 Needs joystick to run A graphics game based on picnic site |
|||||||
£495 |
Colour Genie |
Breakout |
16K |
M9 |
Different levels of skill . |
|||||||||
£6 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Amok |
5K |
A3 |
Chased by robots in enclosed room Different levels of difficulty |
|||||||||
£9 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Black Squid |
3K |
C8 |
Get men to shore in shortest time |
|||||||||
£24 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Mutant Herd |
8K |
•r |
• |
T4 |
Protect a powerhouse from mutants Enter their burrows & destroy eggs |
|||||||
£6 90 |
Dragon 32 |
Dead Wood |
32K |
A5 |
A game for all the family |
|||||||||
Pacman Type |
£9 95 |
BBC Model B |
Snapper |
16K |
• |
W1 |
Based on Pacman |
|||||||
£9 50 |
Colour Genie |
Chomper |
16K |
K2 |
Based on Pacman |
|||||||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Jerusalem Adventure |
32K |
M16 |
Aim is to get treasure & avoid being eaten |
|||||||||
£8 00 |
Dragon 32 |
Scarfman |
32K |
M16 |
Based on Pacman |
|||||||||
£4 95 |
Spectrum |
Gnasher |
16K |
R3 |
Joystick optional Based on Pacman using Beano characters |
|||||||||
Pool |
£8 50 |
BBC Model B |
Billiards |
32K |
H3 |
Available on disk A game for all ages |
||||||||
Racing |
£7 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Grand Prix |
32K |
]F |
S7 |
For one or two players, features eight Grand Prix tracks & 10 levels of difficulty |
|||||||
£21 95 |
TI99 4A |
Car Wars |
16K |
"• |
T5 |
Race through maze whilst avoiding computer controlled car |
||||||||
Shooting |
£29 95 |
Atari 400 |
• |
Claim Jumper |
16K |
• |
V |
C8 |
Also on Atari 800 A two player shoot-out over gold nuggets & cash |
|||||
£29 95 |
Atari 400 |
Shamus |
16K |
• |
C8 |
Player has to move through lair avoiding hazards |
||||||||
£6 84 |
BBC Model B |
T |
Invisible Man |
32K |
C9 |
Also on Commodore Vic-20 Aim is to shoot man who keeps disappearing |
||||||||
£9 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Quacker |
3K |
T |
R2 |
Aim is to shoot down ducks & rabbits on shooting gallery |
||||||||
£1995 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
V |
Spiders of Mars |
• |
A3 |
Popular game for the Vic-20 Also on Commodore 64 |
||||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
High Noon |
16K |
IF |
A6 |
Clean up chaos & disorder in town |
||||||||
Space |
£9 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Dragon Trek |
32K |
S7 |
A version of Star Trek with ten levels of difficulty |
||||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Android Run |
16K |
• |
A6 |
Control android to shoot walls, kill mutants & reach central complex |
||||||||
£5 95 |
Spectrum |
Cosmos |
16K |
A6 |
Defend space convoy from aliens & asteroids |
|||||||||
£5 50 |
Spectrum |
Schizoids |
16K |
16 |
Space bull-dozer nudges shapes into black hole |
|||||||||
£495 |
Spectrum |
V |
Star Trek |
48K |
R3 |
Also on ZX81 (£3.95) One player, sound & full colour graphics strategy game |
||||||||
Space Invader Type |
£7 99 |
BBC Model B |
Swoop |
32K |
M7 |
Written in machine code with full colour & high resolution graphics |
||||||||
£7 50 |
BBC Model B |
Model B Invaders |
32K |
14 |
A Space Invaders game with high resolution & colour graphics |
|||||||||
£9 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Orbis |
3K |
jF |
R2 |
Based on Missile Command Fast & colour |
||||||||
£1995 |
Dragon 32 |
Cosmic Invaders |
N A |
D3 |
Joystick optional 15 levels of difficulty |
|||||||||
£495 |
Spectrum |
Intruders |
16K |
Q1 |
Includes mutants, random saucers, bonus base & 1 4 different aliens Sound & colour |
|||||||||
£5 00 |
Spectrum |
Spectral Invaders |
16K |
B3 |
For one or two players Increasingly difficult, high resolution colour graphics |
|||||||||
£21 95 |
TI99 4A |
Invaders |
16K |
T5 |
Based on Space Invaders After every two screens a new character appears |
|||||||||
£3 95 |
Sinclair ZX81 |
Invaders |
4K |
S9 |
Based on Space Invaders |
|||||||||
Sport |
£33 35 |
IBM PC |
Decathlon |
64K |
T |
<F |
13 |
Needs colour graphics adaptor & direct drive colour monitor For up to six players |
||||||
Variety |
£5 95 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Innovation Cassette |
48K |
M8 |
Three tapes each containing seven games |
||||||||
1 - |
£595 |
Spectrum |
Over the Spectrum |
16K |
| M8 | Three tapes each with 1 0 games Defender to geometry, beginners to advanced | |
|||||||||
HOME 1 |
||||||||||||||
Sports and Clubs |
£78 00 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Clubman |
48K |
• |
• |
S8 |
Golf handicapping and competition results system complying with 1983 regulations |
||||||
£575 00 |
Apple II |
|F |
Tabs Golf Package |
48K |
• |
T3 |
AlsomonMS DOS(64K) Maintains members handicaps including 1 983 regulations |
|||||||
£28 18 |
Epson HX20 |
• |
Horse Race Forecast |
48K |
• |
K9 |
Also on Newbrain and Sharp A punters aid to betting |
|||||||
£28 69 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Navex |
48K |
• |
K9 |
Also on MZ80K Simulations of navigating a yacht on the English Channel |
|||||||
Home |
£1999 |
Atari 400 |
Home Financial Management |
“™8K |
T4 |
Also on Atari 800 Needs Atari Basic cartridge Aids money management |
||||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model A |
*• |
Desk Diary |
16K |
W1 |
Also on BBC Model B Consists of address book & diary planner (plus instructions) |
||||||||
£24 99 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Vic Music Composer |
8K |
14 |
Aids to aspiring composer Also for entertainment and education. |
|||||||||
£1995 |
Epson HX20 |
• |
Home Budget |
16K |
• |
' K1 |
Also on Sharp. MZ80 & Osborne Keeps records of home finances with graphics |
|||||||
£1495 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Sam Analysis |
3K |
' • |
" S8 |
Designed for balancing home debits & credits |
|||||||
£1000 |
Spectrum |
Spec File |
48K |
• |
' A5 |
Stock control program useful in home, e g record collection, etc |
||||||||
Miscellaneous |
£1295 |
Commodore Vic-20 |
Home Office |
5K |
- |
_ |
• |
J |
_ |
J. |
1 A3 |
Comprises VicPro (word processor) & VicData (A database program) |
1 UTILITIES - 1 1 |
||||||||||||||
Basic |
E201 25 |
CP M |
Basic 80 |
48K |
• |
• |
LI |
Industry standard Basic |
||||||
£235 70 |
CP M |
Basic Compiler |
48K |
• |
• |
LI |
Companion to Basic 80 Allows programs to run faster |
|||||||
£80 50 |
CP M |
BDS C Compiler |
48K |
• |
• |
LI |
A subset of C that enables its implementation Includes symbolic debuggers |
|||||||
£121 90 |
CP M |
• |
C Basic |
64K |
[j |
• |
XI |
Commercial Basic Also on CP M86 (£265 65) |
||||||
£213 |
Any Z80 |
X-Basic |
48K |
• |
XI |
Built-in matrix functions Supports MP M record locking Graphics option |
||||||||
Basic Upgrader |
74 75 |
Commodore 64 |
• |
VicTree |
64K |
• |
¥ |
S5 |
Also Commodore Vic-20 Also on floppy (£92 00) Adds 50 commands to Basic |
|||||
Business Graphics |
£471 50 |
16-bit machines |
Micro-Graphpower |
128K |
¥ |
¥ |
12 |
Needs plotter Business graphics which plots business data |
||||||
£120 75 |
Apple III |
• |
Business Graphics |
48K |
• |
P6 |
Also on Apple II (£125.35) Supports range of plotters & pie-charts, etc |
|||||||
£14950 |
IBM PC |
• |
Graph Magic |
96K |
• |
• |
FI |
Also on Apple II, III Displays files graphically Reviewed 18 3 83 |
||||||
Card Index System |
£21505 |
Apple II |
• |
Visidex |
48K |
• |
V |
R1 |
Also on IBM PC Needs printer One record screen designed for cross referencing |
|||||
£178 25 |
CP M |
• |
Cardbox |
48K |
¥ |
• |
• |
C6 |
Also on MS-DOS Needs 24 x 80 VDU & 1 00K disk storage |
|||||
Communications |
£102 35 |
Apple II |
ASCII Express — The Professional |
48K |
• |
• |
• |
P4 |
Needs RS232 Asynchronous serial communications package |
|||||
£448 50 |
Apple II |
Editel |
48K |
• |
• |
01 |
Needs modem A Viewdata frame word processor designed to aid data editing |
|||||||
£626 75 |
Apple II |
Owlsync 3780 |
48K |
• |
• |
01 |
A full IBM 3780 emulator package allowing communication up to 2400 Baud |
|||||||
£454 25 |
Apple II |
Owltel |
48K |
• |
• |
¥ |
01 |
Needs modem Allows access to Prestel & private viewdata systems |
||||||
£14950 |
Apple II |
• |
Terminal Utilities |
48K |
• |
• |
Cl |
Also on Apple HE. Converts Apple II to intelligent terminal Speeds of up to 9600 BPS |
||||||
£57 50 |
CP M |
Xcopy 1 .0 |
64K |
• |
• |
XI |
Disk copy utility for Cromemco machines Copies 8 or 5VV single double sided |
|||||||
£454 25 |
CP M |
• |
Micro-Linkline |
64K |
• |
• |
12 |
Also on UCSD-P Teletype comms for transferring datafiles |
||||||
£575 |
CP M |
• |
Bisync AC-3780 |
64K |
• |
• |
E9 |
AlsoonMP M&CP M86 MicrotomainframecommsthroughlBMtermmalemulation |
||||||
£41 40 |
IBM PC |
Asynchronous Communications |
64K |
• |
¥ |
13 |
Needs asynchronous comms adaptor Makes PC act as asyncs comms terminal |
|||||||
£117.30 |
IBM PC |
IBM 3101 Emulation Program |
64K |
• |
13 |
Makes PC act as 3101 terminal provides 3270 emulations when connected to host |
||||||||
£638 25 |
IBM PC |
PC SNA 3270 Emulation |
128K |
¥ |
¥ |
13 |
Needs SDLL adaptor card makes PC act as IBM 3270 terminal |
|||||||
£22 43 |
Sharp MZ80A |
• |
Zen |
48K |
• |
¥ |
K1 |
Also MZ80K & B Full Z80 editor assembler |
||||||
Connector |
£11500 |
IBM PC |
• |
Interlink |
48K |
• |
T2 |
Also on Sirius. Apple II. Xerox. Osborne etc Connects processors for downloading |
||||||
Database |
£132 25 |
Apple II |
DB Master |
48K |
• |
M5 |
Available on hard disk Allows 1 K records over 1 00 fields Report generation, etc |
|||||||
£22425 |
Apple II |
Informex Database System |
48K |
• |
11 |
Database system which can be used to & update info on any type of record |
||||||||
£402 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Mailist |
48K |
• |
• |
A4 |
Also for IBM PC & Corvus Concept Requires hard disk A networking product |
||||||
£96 60 |
Apple III |
• |
PFS: File |
48K |
• |
P6 |
Also for Apple II (£135.70) Used in tandem with PFS (£96 60) |
|||||||
£215.05 |
Apple II |
• |
VisiFile |
48K |
• |
R1 |
Also on IBM PC (£273 70; 64K) A database program suitable for up to 500 entries |
|||||||
£21735 |
Apple ME |
VisiTrend + VisiPlot |
64K |
• |
R6 |
Also for CP M Graphic representation of data Compatible with VisiCalc |
||||||||
£10 30 |
BBC Model B |
Filer |
16K |
¥ |
M7 |
Allows searching, sorting, saving & recovery of data |
||||||||
£201 25 |
CP M |
• |
Dataflow II |
56K |
¥ |
G1 |
Also on CP M 86 Needs 160K disk space Extract files to link with other systems |
|||||||
£201 25 |
CP M |
Datastaff |
64K |
• |
XI |
Data entry & retrieval system Interfaces with WordStar |
||||||||
£499 74 |
CP M |
dBase II |
48K |
• |
El |
Micro DBMS Can be used for high level programming for a range of applications |
||||||||
£557 50 |
CP M |
Superfile |
56K |
• |
S4 |
Multi-file database giving application package information. |
||||||||
£166 75 |
CP M |
Supersort 116 |
64K |
M10 |
A sort utility for handling various forms of data files Mainframe-like additions |
|||||||||
£1.840 |
CP M |
• |
MDBS II |
64K |
T2 |
AlsoonCPIM86. MS-DOS. Turbo DOS. Unix and Xenix Mainframe — like facilities |
||||||||
£6842 |
Newbrain |
Invoice & Credit Program |
32K |
• |
E2 |
The invoice program allows you to put in your own information and design invoice |
||||||||
£29 32 |
Newbrain |
Database 40 S |
32K |
• |
E2 |
Information gatherer, stores large quantity of information & can be interrogated at will |
||||||||
Debugger |
£258 75 |
CP M |
«T |
Animator |
64K |
¥ |
Mil |
Also on UNIX & MS100S. interactive source level debugging tool for CIS-cobol |
||||||
File Transfer |
£132 25 |
CPM |
Bstam |
16K |
• |
• |
LI |
Needs common interface ports or modem access Utility for transfering CP M files |
||||||
Graphics |
£34 50 |
Apple II |
¥ |
Graphic Utilities |
48K |
• |
Cl |
Also for Apple ME Parameter driven machine code programs high res graphics |
||||||
£24 95 |
Atari |
Constructor |
48K |
¥ |
C8 |
Less experienced & new programmers can design animated sequences |
||||||||
£9 95 |
BBC Model A |
V |
Creative Graphics |
16K |
¥ |
W1 |
Also for BBC model B 30 programs on cassette produce range of pictures & patterns |
|||||||
£24 95 |
BBC Model B |
EDG Graphics Package |
32K |
• |
S7 |
Computer aided design package Reviewed 1 1 .3.83. |
||||||||
£50 60 |
CP M |
CP M Graphics |
64K |
¥ |
D4 |
Range goes up to £421 70 & conforms to GKS Graphics Standard |
||||||||
Language |
£488 75 |
CP M |
T |
CIS Cobol |
64K |
• |
Mil |
Also on Unix Compact, interactive ANSI 74 standard implementation of Cobol |
||||||
£1.10975 |
CP M |
• |
Level II Cobol |
96K |
• |
Mil |
Also on Unix & MS-DOS High level ANSI 74 Compiler, mamframe-compat code |
|||||||
£396 00 |
CPM |
Fortran 80 |
48K |
• |
T2 |
Useful for scientific applications, where Pascal is inefficient |
||||||||
£285.20 |
CPM |
T |
Pascal — MT + |
64K |
• |
XI |
ANSI standard Pascal for Z80 processors Also on CP M 86 (£484-90) |
|||||||
£210 |
CP/M |
• |
Supersoft C Compiler |
48K |
M4 |
Also on CP M86, MS DOS. PC DOS Fast implementation of C. |
||||||||
£1685 |
BBC Model A |
• |
Lisp on the BBC |
16K |
T |
W1 |
Also on BBC Model B Book available £7.50. Lisp is artifical intelligence languaqe. |
|||||||
£230 00 |
CPM |
• |
PROPascal |
48K |
¥ |
El |
Also on C DOS Needs ZX200 disk drives. Native code Pascal |
|||||||
£40 19 |
Sharp MZ80A |
Forth |
N A |
T |
K1 |
Also on MZ80K & Osborne Allows implementation of full fig Forth. |
||||||||
£421.70 |
Any 8 or 1 6 bit machine |
_ |
PL1 |
48K |
_ |
_ |
¥ |
__ |
D4 |
A compact implementation based on Ansi standard general purpose subset of PL 1 |
How does the world’s biggest selling micro compare with the world's biggest computer company’s micro? The no-holds-barred test in this month’s Which Micro & Software Review reveals some surprises. As a home computer the ZX81 is not only easier to use and program - it actually rivals the IBM on operational speed for some applications.
Which Micro & Software Review's side-by-side tests reveal other surprises too. Would you have thought that the Cambridge Lynx would slay the Welsh Dragon 32? Better read the test
We also line up the ageing VIC 20 against the upstart Oric I. A real clash! Our software supplement reviews a stack of new programs-games, educational and business. And our listings are designed to move you off the
KO
PCN MAR25.1983
FAIR
COMPARISON?
nursery slopes of programming and into areas with a touch of sophistication, using time-savers like letter variables and character statements.
If you want some quick fun, there are five new programs on a free disc with every copy of the April issue. They'd run on ZX81, Spectrum, BBC, Vic 20 and PET You really can't afford to miss April's Which Micro & Software Review
WHEN WE TEST A MICRO ITSTAYSTESTED.
r*am*mCOmVTBK
CN MAR25. 1983
Pnc* inc vat |
Ifi |
i |
i |
|l II |
Media Supplied |
i |
Hardware Required |
PuWtsher Distributor |
Comments |
|||||
1 |
1 |
! |
i i |
I 1 |
| |
I |
||||||||
£350 75 |
IBM PC |
• |
Lattice-C |
64K |
• |
• |
LI |
Also on MS DOS C Compiler for 16 bit machines— full implementation & execution |
||||||
Linker |
£224 25 |
CP M |
Plink 2 |
48K |
• |
• |
LI |
Up to 8 megabytes |
||||||
Office Information |
£402 50 |
Apple II |
• |
Prophet II |
48K |
• |
• |
A4 El |
Also on IBM PC & Corvus Concept Information system which acts as a noticeboard Works by putting CP M to sleep & replacing it with operating environment |
|||||
Operations |
£59 80 |
CPM |
Operating Guide |
48K |
• |
• |
||||||||
Operating system |
£22 94 |
Apple ll |
Fasdos |
48K |
• |
• |
P4 |
Disk operating system for Apples which speeds up location of binary & Applesoft files |
||||||
£277 |
CP M |
Concurrent CP M 86 |
48K |
• |
T2 |
Enables four separate tasks to run in a single user station |
||||||||
£295 20 |
Any 8-bit micro |
CPM-t- |
128K |
• |
D4 |
Upward compatible from CP M enhanced eight-bit micro. O S |
||||||||
£126 50 |
Any 8-bit micro |
CPM 2.2 |
64K |
• |
D4 |
O S for eight-bit micros with over 1 .5 million users |
||||||||
£379 50 |
Any 8-bit micro |
MPM |
64K |
• |
D4 |
Multiuser, multitasking Features record & file locking, date & time stamping etc |
||||||||
£21080 |
Any 16-bit micro |
CP M 86 |
64K |
• |
D4 |
Manages up to one megabyte of RAM & allows up to 1 28 megabytes of on-line storage |
||||||||
£548 20 |
Any 16-bit micro |
MPM 86 |
64K |
• |
D4 |
Multi-user Multi-tasking Multi-user capability with multi-programming for each user |
||||||||
£168 70 |
Any 8 or 1 6 bit machine |
CP Net |
64K |
• |
D4 |
A CP M compatible O S designed to access Local & networked resources |
||||||||
£295 20 |
Motorola MC68000 |
CPM 68K |
64K |
• |
D4 |
Extends CP M to Motorola MC6800 microprocessors Single user, single tasking |
||||||||
Program Generator |
£228 85 |
Apple II |
• |
Quickcode |
64K |
• |
• |
P4 |
Also on IBM PC Program generator for dBase II |
|||||
£126 50 |
CPM |
• |
Forms-2 |
64K |
• |
• |
Mil |
Also for Unix & MS-DOS Programming tool, for generating Cobol code. |
||||||
£379 50 |
CP M |
• |
Last One |
64K |
• |
• |
S3 |
Also on MS-DOS and Apple DOS |
||||||
Programming Tool |
£2.500 |
Apple II |
• |
Pascal Isam Pascal Form |
48K |
• |
• |
A4 |
Also on IBM PC & Corvus Concept Needs Corvus hard disk Pascal prog tool |
|||||
£287 50 |
CPM |
• |
Fileshare |
48K |
• |
• |
Mil |
Also on MP M Bank-switched memory or CP M Network |
||||||
£7 95 |
Dragon 32 |
Dragon Selection 2 |
32K |
• |
D3 |
Four utility programs which can be listed to see how the program works. |
||||||||
Telex |
£2.113 70 |
Superbrain |
• |
Micro Telex |
64K |
• |
• |
El |
Also on Televideo 802 Enables automatic sending — releivmg or telex by micro |
|||||
Testing Tool |
£95 82 |
CPM 80 |
• |
Diagnostics II |
32K |
• |
• |
M4 |
Also on CP M86 and MS DOS Tests systems |
|||||
Time Recording |
£862 50 |
Commodore 8000 |
• |
Minuteman |
32K |
• |
C4 |
Also on Commodore 4000 Time recording system Can produce range or reports |
||||||
£402 50 |
CP M86 |
• |
Time Recording System |
64K |
• |
• |
D2 |
Also on CP M 80 Control overman hour expenditure by job or account number |
||||||
Utilities |
£23 00 |
Apple II |
• |
Computech Utilities Disk II |
48K |
• |
• |
Cl |
Also on Apple ME. Error checking, copying Single disk copy Label disk |
|||||
I El 15.00 |
IBM PC |
C-Food Smorgasbord |
64K |
• |
• |
LI |
Decimal arithmetic, low level & terminal independent input & output |
B?
AAl ACT Pulsar, 021-454 8585 A2 Advanced Quality Software. Norwich 21 1 1 7 A3 Audiogenic. Reading 595647 A4 Atlantic Software. Nottingham 412777 A5 A & F Software 061-223 6206 A6 Abbex Electronics. 01-203 1465 A7 Automata UK Portsmouth 735242 AS Apex Trading. Brighton 36894 A9 Acornsoft. Cambridge 316039 A10 Advent Data Products. Melksham 706289 A1 1 Appropriate Technology. 01 -625 5575
>B1 Bonsai. 01-580 0902 B2 Bristol Software Factory. Bristol 23430 B3 Bug-Byte. 051-227 2299 B4 Bytech Reading 61031 B5 ‘“ntish Olivetti, 01-785 6666
CC1 Computech Systems. 01-794 0202 C2 Compact Accounting. Dorking 887373 C3 Claremont Controls. Rothbury 21081 C4 Computer Services Midlands. 021-382 4171 C5 Comshare. 01-222 5665 C6Caxton Software. 01 -379 6502 C7 Cyderpress. Wallingford 37769 C8 Channel 8 Software. Preston 53057 C9 Chalksoft. Wellington 71 1 7 CIO Centronics. 01 -581 1 01 1 CH Commodore Business Machines. Slough 79292
ftDl Dataview. Colchester 869414 02 DEC. Basingstoke 59200 03 Dragon Data, Kenfig Hill 744700 04 Digital Research. 1/Newbury 35304 05 Discom, Evesham 3591 D6 Datatrade. Northampton 22289 07 DNCS. 061 -643 0016 08 DRG. Weston-Super-Mare 415398 D9 Data Systems Division. Bedford 223889
^L1 Lifeboat. 01-836 9028
MM1 MMS. Bedford 40601 M2 Microsimplex, Macclesfield 615000 M3 McDowell Knaggs & Associates. Worcester 612261 M4 Micro Technology. Tunbridge Wells 45433 M5 Micromedia. 01-843 9457 M6 Molimerx. Bexhill-on-Sea 223636 M7 Micro Power. Leeds 683186 M8 Melbourne House. 01 -997 9160 M9 Mercury Software. Darwen 776677 M10 MicroPro. 01-499 5777 MU MicroFocus. Swindon 695891 M12 Mitshi & Co. 01-600 1777 M13 Modata. Tunbridge Wells 41555 M14 Mannesmann Tally. Reading 78871 1 Ml 5 Micropute. Macclesfield 615384 M16 Microdeal. St Austell 67676
N1 Newbury Data Reading. Newbury 48864
N
0°
H Owl Microcommunications. Bishops Stortford 723848 02 Omicron. 01 -636 6575
)P1 Peachtree Software International. Maidenhead 3271 1 P2 Padmede. Fleet 21892 P3 Pegasus. Kettering 522822 P4 Pete & Pam Computers. 01-769 1022 PS PE Consulting Group. Egham 3441 1 P6 Personal Computers. 01-377 1200
I Encotel Systems. 01 -686 9687 E2 Elstree Computer Centre. 01-953 6921 E3 Epson (UK). 01-900 0466 1 Ferrah. 01-751 5791 F2 Farmplan Computer Systems. Ross-on-Wye 64321
G1 Great Northern. Leeds 589980 G2 Graffcom Systems. 01-727 5561 G3 Geveke Electronics. Woking 26331
EE F G
HHl Hilderbey. 01 -485 1059 H2 Hartford Software Northwich. 781 1 56 H3 H & H Software. Runcorn 65566 H4 Heinemann. 01-637 3311
111 Informex. 01-318 4213 12 Intelligence (UK). 01-543 371 1 13 IBM UK Product Services. Basingstoke 56144 14 UK Software.
Blackpool 21555 IS Impact Software. 031 -441 4257 16 Imagine Software. 051-236 6849 17 Intac Data Systems. Rotherham 547170 18 ITT Business Systems. Brighton 5071 1 1 19 ITT Consumer Products. Basildon 3040 110 Intelligent Interfaces. Stratford-upon-Avon 296879
III Jarman Systems. Tring 6841 12 Jones & Brother. 061-330 6531
QQ1 Quicksilva. Southampton 20169 Q2 Qume (UK). Reading 584646
RRr
u
111
K1 Kuma Computers. Maidenhead 71778 K2 Kansas City Systems. Chesterfield 850357 K3 Knights. Aberdeen 630526 K4 Keen Computers. Nottingham 412777
1 Rapid Terminals. High Wycombe 26271 R2 Rabbit Software. 01-863 0833 R3 R & R Software. Gloucester 502819 R4 Rair, 01-836 6921 RS Riva Terminals. Woking 71001 R6 Rapid Recall. High Wycombe 356354
SSI Systematics International M' osystems. Haverhill 61 121 S2 SGS Software Products. 01-486 7498 S3 Silicon Valley Trade.
0 1-242 2807 S4 Southdata. 0 1-994 6477 S5 Supersoft. 01-861 1 166 S6 Seed. Brownhills 378151 S7 Salamander Brighton 771942 S8 Solo Software Worcester 424152 S9 Silversoft. 01-748 4125 S10 Sinclair Research. Cambridge 353204 SU Sintron Electronics. Reading 875464 S12 Sord. 01-930 4214 S13 Systime. Leeds 70221 1 S14 Stotron. Coventry 613521
TU Tridata Micros. 021 -622 6085 T2 Tamsys. Windsor 56747 T3 Tabs. Andover 5893 T4 Thorn EMI. 01 -836 2444 T5 Texas Instruments. Bedford 6321 1 T6 Triumph Adler. 01-250 1717T7 Tandy Company. Walsall 648181 T8 Technology For Business. 01-837 1271 T9 Toshiba Office International. Sunbury-on-Thames 785666
yywi John Wiley & Sons. Chichester 784531 W2 Walters Microsystems. High Wycombe 445175
y^Xl Xitan Systems. Southampton 33471 1 X2 X-Data. Slough 72331 Sygal Dynamics. Bicester 3361
PCN Biboard
Apple llcxpansion cards, as new. boxed with instructions, colour card. £50. Language card (16K memory card) £60 with Integer Basic and Pascal Videx 80-col card £150. Tel: Bryan, Camber- ley 0276 28366.
Atari 400 32K. Normally £60 extra. Atari recorder, basic cartridge games including Star Raiders, 4 joysticks, technical manuals, magazines. Cost over £500, only £395. Tel: Burgess Hill 47017.
Sharp PC1211 and CE122 prin¬ ter cassette interface plus all manuals leads etc. As new condition, including cases and mainsadaptor. Tel: 01-8022439 affer 6.45pm, ask for Sammy. Price £100 complete.
UK101 8K RAM. New monitor, cased(Compshop). £95. Tel: Redhill 67968 eve
VIC 20 C2N cassette unit. 16K RAM pack. Jelly Monsters cartridge, VIC revealed, joys¬ tick. magazines and software. Bought April 82, £200ono.Tel 01-876 9598 eve.
Video Genie 16K, 12in tv con¬ verted for use. All monitor leads and manuals £160 + software and books including Basic programming, games and utilities all for only £280 ono. Tel Kidlington 77488.
RML 380Z 20K. RAM several Basics inc 51 D and TXED S10-2 PIO/RTC board. COS3.4 Blue Box, W-keyboard. Good condition. First offer above £750 accepted. Tel 024 024 4141.
TRS80 16K level 2, £190 cash, weeks old, genuine bargain, no tricks. Tel Shaw 840677, ask for Paul.
Gemini G809/G815 disk system for Nascom 2, including CPM 2.2 and many utilities and languages. Condition as new (with 3 month guarantee) only £600. Tel: Nigel on 024-361 4989.
VIC 20 computer + Commod¬ ore cassette recorder. Still boxed for only £140 (VAT receipt supplied). Buyer col¬ lects. Must sell. Tel 06286 2649 eve.
PET games for sale worth £200.
will accept £100 ono. Also sold separately for £4, £6 (all Com¬ modore). Tel East End 698 eve only.
TI58, hardly used with Amer¬ ican software books 4- all manu¬ als etc. £40ono. Will also throw inTI57free. Reason for selling, have bought new system. Tel: 01-579 7130 after 7pm.
TRS80 Ul 16K VDU + £200 of software inc Space Invaders. Asteroids, Edtasm. All leads and some micro-80 mags. Tel: Brian, 01*002 9483 after 7pm. Best offer accepted.
Sharp MZ-80K 48K, 12 months old, 1 year guarantee remain¬ ing. Various games and manu¬ als inc. Will deliver within 30 miles of Slough. Must sell, £300 ono. Tel Burnham 06286 5981 .
Sharp MZ80K 48K complete with Basic, manual and over 40 games £300. Tel Bradford 725973 evening only.
TRS-80 L 2 16K adventure games. Two for the price of one. Calico and Holy-Grail. Superb value £3 cassette. Send cheque to Michael Offen, 25 Sefton Park Road, Liverpool. Tel 734 1229.
Acorn Atom 12K -I- 12K, Acorn built, PSU, all leads, manual.
Magic book. Life cassette, £140. Tel 01-767 2562(Balham)
Tandy LPVI printer, US model, llOv, with dust cover, spare ribbon and some paper, parallel interface, 100 CPS paper up to 15in. Little used. £300 ono. Tel Ascot (0990)21510.
Video Genie, 48K + Printer Interface Unit, extended Basic EPROM (not fitted). £600 worth of software, all manuals, books on programming worth £1000. Sell £450. Tel Leicester (0533) 883309 after 6pm.
Acorn Atom 8K ROM, 4K utility ROM, 12K RAM, heavy duty PSU. Leads, manual, plus some software ,£120. Tel Todmorden 5959.
PET 3032 computer and 3040 disk drive. Purchased April for home educational purposes. Redundancy now forces sale. £975 ono. Tel Keith. Camber- ley (0276)61484.
CBM8032 cassette power chip. Petchess Cursor tapes etc. Manuals + Osborne RS West Schematics perfect order. Home use only. £700 or very near offer. Tel Folkestone 56469 anytime.
Vic 20 C2N, joystick, + super expander, Sargon Chess,
Avenger and Adventure Land cartridges. Vicmen, Frogger and Myriad tapes. Worth over £300, good con. will accept £230 ono. Tel: 0233 3837.
PET 4032 large screen, manu¬ als, books, cassette and the Amazing Arrow. All £425 ono. Tel: 01-568 6466.
Teletext add-on adaptor suit any television. New AYR model, cordless remote control. Only £149.95. Also Prestel adaptor with microcomputer interface option and telesoftware. Tel Bristol 0272-502008.
Teleprinters I )ata Dynamics 390 with tape unit. RS232 interface, se nsi b le offe rs . Te 1 0 1 -550 603 1 .
16K Spectrum, as new, £110. Ferguson bigboard Z80 64K £200 I fitachi 9in monitoi £70. Larter ASCII keyboard with case £35. Sinclair 10MHz oscil¬ loscope £100. Tel Swanley 66260 evenings and weekend only.
Spectrum 48K. boxed brand new hardly used. Software in¬ cluded. Scramble, Invaders, Gulpman, Nightflite, Hobbit, Timegate, Bomber, Cen¬ tipede. Guaranteed. Cost £230, sell for £200. Tel Rob 01-440 1635
BUY&SELLFREEADFORItl I For your free PCN ad. fill in this form putting one word in each box allowing a maximum of 32 | . words. Write in block capitals and don't forget to include your name and address, or telephone 1 number. But don't send any money . . . we offer this service to our private readers, free of charge. | It's worth warning, however, that we absolutely will not include ads from companies, large or • small. Also, we cannot guarantee to put any ad in a specific issue, but will work on a first come, first | 1 served basis. Reprints will be out of order too unless submitted on a separate form. Send your | complete form to Personal Computer News, 62 Oxford Street, London W1A 2HG. |
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PCN MAR25.1983
83
MICROSHOP
tates: 1 10 per single colunm cm. Series discount available Mechanical Data: Column width. 1 column 57mm. 2 columns 1 18mm. 3 columns 179 mm Publishing Dates: Every Friday. Copy Dates: 10 days prior to publication Contact:: Ian Whorley on 01-323
Software
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE ON THE 64!
BUSICAIC IS just me program for mose *no need to mogie witn figures You could use 1 to plan your household finances or your persona* tax — but it s equally capable of handling much larger figures It you ve got a printer you'll be able to produce reports that are good enough to put before the board (or the bank manager) — but a printer isn t necessary and neither is a disk drive BUSICAIC costs iust £39 plus VAT on tape or £40 50 on disk there are versions at the same prices for the PET and VIC -20 (with 16k expansion)
MlKRO ASSEMBLER plugs into the cartridge port of the 64 As PET and VIC owners are already wen a*are. MlKRO makes writing machine code programs almost as easy as Basic because it is a real assembler onth LABELS To heipvou write your program MIKR0 has AUTO. DELETE andEiNO commands to help you debug t there s a machine code monitor and you can DISASSEMBLE from 8as.c or in the monitor1 The TABLE commands displays or prints an alphabetically sorted symbol table after assembly — which is really fast (MlKRO wii assemble 2k of code m just 20 seconds) If you are writing more than (say 1 4k of code you may have to spirt your source code into several tiles but MlKRO win automatically imk these together at assembly tune loading them from tape or disk as appropriate The MlKRO module costs £50 plus VAT it coukJ be the best investment you ever make With AR&0W installed m your 64 the Commodore cassette unit LOADS AND SAVES PROGRAMS SEVEN TIMES FASTER’ Almost as fast as the 1 541 disk infect There is however a small difference m price — because ARROW costs iust £39 plus VAT ARROWhasitsownioadandsavecommands so you can still load and save at normal speed it you should want to ARROW is a tried and tested product that we ve been selling on the PET for several
Crs. now 64 owners can also benefit
v for the lighter side of our range TANK AT AK KAKTUS and MANGROVE are arcade games with colour and sound a ioystick is recommended . but is not essential They each cost £8 plus VAT on cassette or £9 50ond«sk THE HITCH-HIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY s an adventure based (w-tn the kmd perm sson of Oougias Adams and Pan Books l on the characters and scenarios n the popuar ser es lfyoudrvidethepnceof£12p<usVAT(£13 50 on disk) by the number of hours you'll spend exploring the galaxy the answer will be a very small number indeed1
CITDEDCAET Winchester House. Canning Road. Wealdstone. Harrow.
OLI EltoUri Middlesex HA3 7SJ. England. Telephone: 01-861 1166
TOPCHIP
PRESENTS
COSMIC ZAP
FOR OOC3 MICRO
(REQUIRES 32K)
Fast, exciting, original game. Steer your ship through an unfolding cosmic corridor colliding with aliens and avoid¬ ing deadly asteroids. Dock with mother ship for extra bonus.
Status report shown after each dock¬ ing. The game becomes progressively more difficult and retains the top 8 scores with name entry. Excellent 16 colour graphics and sound.
£5.95 inc
Send cheques PO to:
TOPCHIP
34 Salehurst Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 8RY.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE BBC MODEL B (32K)
GEOGRAPHY - ITALY - colour graphics mountains, rivers, cities etc tests GEOGRAPHY - FRANCE - colour graphics mountains, rivers, cities etc tests MATHS - TRANSLATIONS - colour diagrams explanations, calculations, etc tests
lor uis: by taacher tor class instruction OR by student tor individual learning CORONA (SOFTWARE)
21 Tennyson Avenue. London Ell 2QN
TRS-80 L2 GENIE SOFTWARE (1 6K)
Cassette 1 Space Invaders (me). Mastermind (finds your code m seconds). Appoilo(mc). Machine code copier. Defuse and Rate
ALL SIX PROGRAMS ON ONE CASSETTE FOR £4.75
Cassette 2: Space Defender A fast professional quality me game in graphics with a top 10 ladder continuous display of Score etc A fast, real time, action packed game Apollo 7 An exciting me game with sound effects and
&OTHPROGRAMS ON ONE CASSETTE FOR C4.7S
Each cassette costs £4.75(Of both for £9)trom K. Meeran.
32 Llamore Road, S. Croydon. Surrey CR27QA.
UNEXPANDED VIC-20
Space Storm €6 99 Skramble £9 99
Night Crawler £9 99 Space Phreeks £9 99
Big Screen Invaders £4 Astenods £7
Naval Attack £5
Big Screen Astenods £4
Astro Sled and Space Fighter £7
And nod Attack £5 Space Hopper £5
FOR ANY VIC- Arcadia £5.50
Vic + 3K— Frogger £9 99
Vic 4- 3K— Myriad £9 99
SPECTRUM
3D Maze of Gold £5 95 Spectres £7 Bear Island £3 95 Krazy Kong £5 Meteroids £4 95 3D Tanx £4 95 Centipede £4 95 Time Gate (46K) £ 6 95 The Chess Player (48K) £6 95 Speakeasy (46K) £4 95 Space Intruders £4 95 8 Games Pack £5 Meteor Storm £4 95 Orbiter £5. 95 Ground Attack £5 95 Mongoose £3 95 ALL PRICES INCLUDE POST A PACKING OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE ADD 65p PAP AND YOU MAY PAY BY S TERLING MONE Y ORDER (FROM YOUR BANK) OR YOUR OWN U S 5 CHEQUE ALL CUSTOMERS MA Y DEDUCT THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNTS ORDERS C10-C19 99 5% £20- £29. 99:
- 7V*% £30 and over. - 10%. ALL ORDERS DEAL T WITH ON DAY OF RECEIPT VIC HARDWARE -EG Vic 20+ Cassette Deck * Joystick ONLY £180 (plus £3 50pp) Full lists on application SOFTWARE HOUSES please send us your samples
BYTE WELL.
203. Court Rd.. Barry. S. Glam.
Tel: (0446) 742491.
SPECTRUM — TRS80 LV2 VIDEO GENIE SOFTWARE
25 SUPER PROGRAMS - Machine code arcade games Simulations, competitive games, adventures. Dungeons A Dragons, puzzles A ball games, including Breakout (the real thing — takes you through nine levels of increasing difficulty). Star Wars. Amazing 3D mazes. Gambling machine. Corridors of Doom & Trap It All 25 on one C48 cassette Sent by return Post for only £6 95 me., or send sae
For full details
Programmers:— 25% royalties paid on original Software for the Spectrum. TR6 80 or Geme
SPARTAN SOFTWARE (Dept. PCN)
9. COTSWOLD TERRACE. CHIPPING NORTON. OXON.
Tel: 0608-3059
WANTED URGENTLY
Arcade-type games programs for Spectrum. ZX81 .
Vic20. One. Dragon. BBC Micro and Lynx We pay top royalties or buy your copyright lor cash National mail order and dealer sales ensure you get the best reward for your genius Write or call into
NORTHWISH LTD
THE GROUND FLOOR. RALLI BUILDINGS. STANLEY STREET. MANCHESTER M3 5FD or Tel 061-432 9143
BBC32K BBC32K
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (1-6 YRS)
“A First Book of Micro-Rhymes”
5 traditional nursery rhymes
See the words — Hear the tunes Watch the moving pictures Listen to the sound effects only £4 95 (inc) from
Peter Gordon. 20 Oespard Road. London N19 5NW
START THEM YOUNG!! _
VIC SOFTWARE HIRE
Are you a Vic 20 owner?
Why not find out more about our Vic 20 Software Hire? Hire fees start at just £2.50 per week, and we offer a large selection of the best programmes available. Full details, write or phone.
Peek and Poke Software Supplies,
110 Drummond Street, London. NW1.
Telephone 01 -380 1213
We also stock Atari 400 800 Software etc
DRAGON ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
includes
* Trial Balance
* P and L Account
* Account Code Enquiry (maximum 300 accounts), etc
Only £4.00
N. VANBRADDER
72 Berry Hill Lane.
Mansfield, Notts.
*** SPECTRUM OWNERS ***
Why wart lor weeks’ High speed hire service lor all the software you could want All it costs is £ 1 0 life membership plus £1 .25 per tape (me. PAP)
Now you can TRY the best programs before you BUY Join today Send £10 for life membership and first FREE tape to:
SPECTRAL SOFTWARE LIBRARY 13 Charlecote Road. Poynton Stockport. Cheshire SKI 2 10J
or send SAE lor full details
WORLD INFO a database of information about the modern world Use your 48k Spectrum as a reference book on Heads of State. Wars. Types of Regime, Human Rights and much more. It's a datafile for use with Campbell Systems Masterfile. the standard database system for Spectrum £5 Send SAE for more details PHONES keeps track of your phone bill Times calls, costs them Good for flat sharers or several people sharing the same phone
From WIMS0FT (PI). 20 Brookside Road. Wimbome. Dorset BH21 2BL
STAINLESS SOFTWARE
Software for the Tl 99 4A. Large illustrated catalogue. Imported & UK programs. 50p (Refundable on order) to:
STAINLESS SOFTWARE. Dept PCN, 10 Alstone Road. Stockport. Cheshire SK4 5AH.
84
PCN MAR 25. 1983
MICROSHOP
Maintenance
MICRO-COMPUTER MAINTENANCE
APPLE
IBM
SIRIUS
VICTOR
NATIONAL ON-SITE 24 hr
CONTRACTS
COMMERCIAL DATA SYSTEMS LTD.
Telephone: 0268-710292 (ask for sales)
Services
COMPUTER PORTRAITS
M COLOUR OR e t W AN INSTANT MONEY MAKER THAT CAN EARN YOU C4.000 CS.300 p.r monlH
Back m the fifties if someone had suggested you invest m a hamburger stand caHed McDonald s or a chicken store run by Colonel Sanders you probably would have laughed Most of us did The lew who <*dnl and invested are milhonaires today Yesterday however they were |ust budding entrepreneurs looking for a good investment The tnck to investing m your own busarwss is to keep your eyes open for something that ( 1 ) requires a small investment that can be recouped quickly ( 2) has an enormous profit margin and (3) has great, growing consumer acceptance MOTTIIT NEW BUSINESS
Theretssuchabusmees It s cased Computer Portraits and its one of the hottest most profitable new busmesaesm the world Oont let the name scare you You don f have to be a computer operator or photographer to operate a machine You don t even have to operate it yourself — it s the perfect part-time owner business
NO SKILL INVOLVED
Its a business that combines today s hottest trends — TV cameras and instant pictures A high quality system that is low m price portable and requires absolutely no technical experience
The Kerne Computer Portrait System can be set up anywhere — lairs hokday areas shopping centres . convenbons hotels — anywhere with hnh pedestrian traffic H s an instant traffic stopper that makes a portrait justm seconds The picture is first seen on a TV screen, men dramatically printed before your eyes on a computer printout
And there s more You can transfer the portraits - instantly — to T -Shets. posters calenders puzzles and other Isgh mark-up profit items System price Irom C6.670 to C23.300
Kema Computer Portrait System
The most dynamic business opportunity to come along this year
But don t just take our word for A Check us out Don t send money |ust write to us for details Before you make an important decision about going into thwexctong new busmess. know who you are buying from We suggest you asL your banker about us
KEMA HANDELS GMBH DEPT PCM18. BEETHOVENSTR 9. 6000 Frankfurt. Germany Tel: (061 1)747808. Telex 412713 Office hours 10am-6pm
MICRO USER T-SHIRTS
EPSON SHARP SORD
ZX81 SPECTRUM ORIC 1
SIRIUS 1
Available m white, blue and red
MICRO FUN T-SHIRTS
I M USER FRIENDLY HAVE YOU SEEN MY PERIPHERALS?
Available in white or blue small, medium, large and x-large sizes
CLUB T-SHIRTS ALSO PRINTED £3-25 EACH INCLUSIVE Mail Order only from
ONE PER CENT SCREENS UNIT 12. STAR LANE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE GREAT WAKERING. ESSEX
New EQUIPMENT at very ipec>« pncea OLYMPIA ESlOORO 1 7cpa0a»ywhe^ EPSONMXSOFTMkZ Senai keedace ky above ZVM121 Green screen Monitor EX DEMONSTRATION EQUIPMENT TECElO-SSStarwreer S5cpabawywheel INSIGHT VDT1 TemwvaiwrlhW P keyboard MCCOMBOSMO O TweiOwkMcrocompuler OiABL0 1640 45cp«D*»ywM*«M
□euelopments
PP kerf Oort Rxiervwa I tercfu i _ Try MTrl PBB7BB. BOBOS (STD Q43P)
HOBBYIST LIMITED
Open 6 days 10am-7pm. Wednesday and Saturdays 5.30pm.
Authorised Apple Service Centre.
New Apple 1 1 E now in stock, wide range of peripherals and books including Epson Printers available
Coming soon the Oric 1 3 The Broadway, Manor Hall Road, Southwick, Brighton BN4 4ND
Avoid damage to your computer or printer by using a Sherborne Oust Cover large stocks available lor most makes or made to measure service
Dragon. Atari. Vic 20 — £2.95
BBC, Tl. Epson £3.95 Sharp MZ80AK £4.96
SHERBORNE DESIGNS Victory House
8A The Rank. North Bradley Trowbndge Wilts Tel: 02214 442$
Dealer Enquiries welcome
£ BERKSHIRE MICROS LTD. | |
|
Sord MZZ3 Mklll . |
. .. £1 900 |
Osborne 1 . 6 months guarantee Hewlett Packard HP85 |
£895 £850 |
Commodore Pet 4032 |
£375 |
Sinclair Spectrum ( New) Epson Ft III (New) |
£155 £299 |
Apple II with disc drives and monitor |
£990 |
(0344) 84423
Premises To Let
TEL: 01-377 1226
Lenta Properties (Management) Ltd.
69 Cannon Street. London EC1. Software Studios, 3 sc office units 450 640 660 sq. ft. City Border El, £3.25 psf net.
IDEAL FOR START-UPS
01-377 1226
Accessories
The Reference Encyclopedia for Commodore PET and CBM Users
Comprehensive teaching and reference book on programming Commodore's 2000, 3000, 4000 and 8000 microcomputers and peripherals.
Many programs, charts and diagrams. 17 chapters, appendices, and index, iv + 504 page large-format paperback. ISBN 0 9507650 0 7. Price in UK and Europe £14.90 each (includes post and packing). Five or more £12.90 each. 48 hour order turnaround guaranteed.
From dealen and bookullen or direct:
Trade Manager, Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, Woodlands Park Avenue, MAIDENHEAD, Berks SL3 3LX.
Tel: (062882) 3104 "A masterpiece" — Creative Computing "Essential1’ — Educational Computing “Excellent" — JmStrasma “Comprehensive & Accurate" — Jim Butterfield
Send orden and make cheque s payable to
Trade Manager, Edvard Arnold ( Publishers) Ltd,
Woodlands Park Avenue, MAIDENHEAD,
Berks SL33LX.
Send . copy ics Programming the PET/CBM at £14.90
I enclose cheque PO for £ . .
DRAGON 32 or TANDY TRS-80 Colour?
Lots of programs — lots of useful hints and information EVERY single month in “RAINBOW’ , an exciting new 200-page magazine from U.S.A.
Send £2.25 (plus large 56p s.a.e.) for sample issue to
ELKAN ELECTRONICS (Dept. PCN), FREEPOST,
11 Bury New Road, Prestwlch, Manchester M25 6LZ or telephone 061-798 761 3
(24 hour service)
ZX81 & SPECTRUM
HARDWARE
ZX81 -Built keyboard with Single key EDIT RUB0UT. FUNCTION and CURSOR keys 2 shift keys laroe space bar and new line keys Plugs in. no soldering C29 95 ( Overseas C2 pottage)
Many ZX81 and SPECTRUM Add ona Sand 20p or SAE tor catalogue of Hardware Software Best prees around1
NLockyer
33 Pedmore Close. Woodrow South.
Redditch. Wore* 897 7XB
ORIC 1
CASSETTE LEADS
(with motor control)
Din to Din and Remote Jack U J J
Din to Three Jacks
£2-50 including
CLARES P&P
222 Townfields Road. Winsford. Cheshire CW7 4 AX Tel: 06065 51374
TEXAS T199 4A .'7*
CASSETTE LEADS
No need lo pay £11 50 for Texas (( JWT J J Leads ours are only \\ J)
£4.95
including post and packing —
Single Recorder only
CLARES
222 Townfields Road. Winslord. Cheshire CW7 4AX Tel: 06065 51374
MICROSHOP I
Appointments
TEXT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Just six keys on the remarkable Microwriter give you the full alpha numeric character set for one hand text entry faster than handwriting and safely stored in memory. Memory will hold i ^ ^ five full pages of A4 text which
^ ^ ^ ^ can be recalled to the sixteen
character moving display for editing, printed on any serial 1 printer, or transmitted to
another machine. Rechargeable JP batteries give up to forty hours
usage bet ween charges.
The palm sized unit measures only 9" x 4 . 5" x 2" and weighs === lib 1 lozs. It comes complete
MICROWRITER with RS232 serial interface port for transmission and printer connection, plus an external cassette lead, mains power adaptor and soft case. All of the necessary software is supplied ready loaded on ROM. Everything you need for data entry and word processing on the move.
We have the Microwriter in stock, basic price £485 plus VAT. Learn the key depressions from the manual in about four hours or attend our one day teaching session for £50 plus VAT, refundable against purchase.
TAP MICROS LTD,
30 CURSITOR STREET, LONDON EC4A 1LT
tap
01-4059125
PROGRAMMERS
WANTED
IJK
COMMODORE
COMPUTERS
SOUTHAMPTON
HIRE Commodore equipment by the week, all including manuals, cassette deck, media etc.
4032 £25, 4040 Disk or 4022 Printer £25 Nearly new equipment with guarantee available 4032 (large screen) £475, 4040 £525, 4022 £295
Sell us your unwanted equipment
COMMODORE 64 £299 place your order lor March delivery
700 and 500 series computers available May
71 OB 128K, monitor, £995 500P128K, colour, £695
AJt POCM or* cash-and-carry and *«dud* VAT
OFFICIAL COMMODORE DEALER
Super-Vision
13 St James Road. Shirley. Southampton Telephone «T03) ”4023 After hours «P03> SVh8X
IJK Software Ltd., a leading name in BBC Micro software, are expanding their range to include software for Micros such as the ORIC 1 and LYNX.
We pay top royalties or outright purchase for software, so don’t just sit there - if you have written a programme for the BBC Micro,
ORIC 1 or LYNX, and you want to be part of one of Britain’s leading software houses, then send you program to us right away for appraisal in the strictest confidence.
Obviously, machine code arcade games will be the biggest money earners, but every program will be considered on its merits.
Our extensive nationwide advertising, together with national and international mail order system, dealer networks and distributors will ensure you get the best possible reward for your ingenuity. Send t0
The Software Manager
IJK Software Ltd.
9 KING STREET, BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.
TEL: 0253 21555
Insurance
THE ‘BIG’
FREE! D BASE II [..□ still available phone NOW n
\QSBORNE
ocentres It
' THE ‘BIG* p\
_ FREE! D BASE II □ Ik still available fl phone NOW Q
kOBBORNEO
B 67551
North Bar. Banbury
fntres ltd o*o« oxi6 otf
SPECIAL
PRINTER
OFFER
CENTRONICS 737-2 PARALLEL
(Brand new, sealed & boxed u,tf without warranty)
®*lk215*00
RING AIMGRAM LTD
I Kings Langley (09277) 68211
mcGO-cowura
in/UCADCC
* All risks Cover (mcl Transit) up to £8,000 for £20
* Increased Cost of Working — to reinstate lost data
* Breakdown & Derangement — alternative to maintenance agreement
Comprehensive cover at a reasonable premium:—
Talk to us before taking a Maintenance Contract Write with details of equipment and value to —
Geoffrey Hoodless & Associates Freepost (no stamp required) Woking. Surrey GU21 4BR
Tel: Woking (04862) 61082 Answering Service
INSURE
YOUR COMPUTER
Impact damage. Fire, Theft A Transit Insurance for your Computer Equipment:
£1 to £1,500 cover.. . . . £8.00 pa£lO (excess)
£1,500 to £2.500 . £1 6.00 pa£l 5 (excess)
£2. 500 to £8 000 . £16.00 pa £25 (excess)
£10.000 . £20 00 pa £25 (excess)
Ask for details
KGJ Insurance Brokers
6 Hagley Road, Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 tQG Tel (03843) 5333 2545
86
PCN MAR25.1983
CONTRACTORS
Whose pocket are you lining?
It may be the ‘norm* for someone to charge 40% on top of your pay. But there is now simply no necessity for you to be denied all of this potential additional income.
The National Computer Contract Directory is now working and both contractors and subscribers are deriving major benefits:
FOR CONTRACTORS
1 . Substantial increases in income.
2. Far wider choice of assignments
3. Service completely free of charge!
FOR SUBSCRIBERS
1 . Positive reduction in costs.
2. Access to a large central source of people AND information.
3. Total cost of approximately £1 per day!
Bringing contractors and computer users into direct contact, in a major and practical way, is the service the industry has been asking for. The National Computer Contract Directory fulfils this need and is becoming the stan¬ dard tool for anyone whose job it is to resource a project .
Subscribers to date include BANKING. INSURANCE. MANUFAC TURING. FINANCIAL. SOFTWARE HOUSES. ELECTRONIC. GOVERNMENT. COMPUTER MANUFACTURING. TELECOMMUNI CATIONS. AUTOMOTIVE. PETROCHEMICAL.. RETAIL ETC
FOR CONTRACTORS: Increases in income have varied from £52 to £123 per week.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Savings in costs have varied from £50 to _ £370 per week!
NATIONAL
COMPUTER
CONTRACT
DIRECTORY
wuitmwAt iii> • It •Hi'#. MM I \bridgr ■ ■*—»»»!
The National Computer Contract Directory uses technology to provide information at a realistic cost and ensures that all of the reward is paid to the achiever.
Your entry will remain permanently in the directory. All you have to do is complete this form. It costs you nothing and gives you access to substantial increases in income and a wider choice of contracts.
DIRECTORY j ENTRY DETAILS
THE DIRECT ALTERNATIVE
Th* section « not tor publication (Contact detarts are not retoaseO without prior consent)
NO OF YEARS EXPERIENCE PREFERRED UK WORK LOCATIONS
WILL YOU CONSIDER WORKING ABROAD7 _
WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO START YOUR NEXT CONTRACT >
NO OF YRS | CATEGORY PREFERRED
ANALYST PROGRAMMER SYSTEMS PROGRAMMER
CONSULTANT PROJECT MANAGER
FURTHER INFORMATION: programme rs are advised to describe the depth o» their programmin', i xpehieni i and anai vsts should ust those arfas or systems anai ysis in
(NOT MORI THAN 50 WORDS I WHICH TH|Y ARf EXPERIENCED I I FEASIBILITY STUDIES SYSTEM DESIGN PROJECT HE SPONMBM IT > USER iNVOt VEMtNT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE ETC IN AOOlTlON YOU SH0U10 MENTION ANY SPECIALIST EXPERIENCE YOU FEEL IS RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT MARM TPIACE
PLEASE RETURN TO: WILLOWAY LTD (THE NATIONAL COMPUTER CONTRACT DIRECTORY)
FREEPOST LONDON W5 2BR.
PIN MAR 25. 1983
87
Appointments
m
0^1
x sO^I AM& -proe0 „ uo0^1rt\pv>v e\
rrtC ^ f c Jf'®
-A nN°Y1. W0*<* <*** *
0^CeCO«oA
«*><e &** io< »'><'&’" <*>‘',£w*'* 1
>cS L ^ °£**c 6 „ ^°dtv.<'°* :So
• „ _
n pc^° al006 -v«s
W oa^es9 Ax^fc^
* r^Sv^vS)^-
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Co^C
88
PCN MAR 25. 1983
YES IS OUR STOCK ANSWER -
*BBC & ACORNSOFT SOFTWARE * BBC BUGGY * DISC DRIVES * PRINTERS * JOYSTICKS * MONITORS * BOOKS AND MANUALS * GAMES AND PUZZLES * SERVICE * ADVICE
BEST FOR USERS
Acorn and BBC users will find everything they want -and we mean everything-at our Nottingham retail store. For instance we have just been appointed distributors of the BBC Buggy, the clever little mobile featured in the television series “Making the Most of Your Micro" and BBC software. Don’t worry if you can't get to Nottingham. Just send us a SAE and we will send you a list of dealers, and details of our mail order stock.
NEW! 200K DISK DRIVES
Upgrade your BBC Micro with our new 200K dual disk drive. Designed to fill the gap between the Acorn 100K and 800K disc drives, our 200K unit has already won rave reviews and it’s ready now. It costs £389.00 plus £110.25 for the operating system. To order fill in the coupon below.
^bTl-easalmk Viewdata Ltd Scientific House. Bridge Street. Sandiacre. Nottingham NG10 5B^™| I Please send me
| - 200K Dual Disc Drives) @ £389.0) (me VAT)
| - Operating System(s) @ £110.25 One VAT) Current Price List Only* FREE
I I enclose a Cheque For: £ - Please Debit My Access/ Barclaycard Amex
I No ■■■■■■■■■ . . . . .
I Name _ J
| Address: _
Postcode: _ Day time Tel No:
•Please enclose s.a.e. Allow 28 days for delivery.
BEST FOR DEALERS
As Acorn’s only official distributors we can supply anything you want, as soon as you want it.
Ordering Acorn and BBC products through us means quick and efficient service. We are prompt, reliable and offer excellent service back-up.
You will like our credit terms as well.
We can get you any Acorn or BBC product without fuss and by using the official distribution channel you can be sure of a completely safe delivery service.
If you are thinking about
becoming an Acorn/BBC iust been ^ .
dea ler ta I k to us now. r,but°r for bbc UK
the BBC ~ RWare anH
*are and
COMING SOON — ‘E’ DAY!
Yes it’s almost here, the Acorn Electron, the microcomputer the whole industry’s talking about.
If you are an Acorn/BBC dealer then you will want to be the first when the Electron is launched.
Through us you will guarantee enough Electrons to keep your customers fully satisfied from day one-and keep you one step ahead of your competitors.
Leasalink Viewdata Software are the sole distributors for the Logical program shown on BBC TV as well as Spreadsheet.
Q2
LEAttUNKTlEWIHEt
m m limited m m
Scientific House, Bridge Street, Sandiacre, Nottingham NG10 5BA Tel: 0602 394000
COMMODORE 64 and 8000
alcResuli
Professional spread sheet at a breakthrough price.
Spread sheet programs have been available for a number of years. The knowledge and experience gained through the use of these led to a demand for a tool that is easier to use, easier to understand and more powerful than contemporaries. The result is Calc Result a powerful yet low cost '3D' spread sheet for the Commodore 8000 and 64.
* 3D format
* Up to 32 pages
* Horizontal and vertical page split
* Window facilities
* Powerful editing facilities
* "What if ... "
* "if . . . then . . . else"
* Full graphics output
* Miserly use of memory
* 'Help' functions
* Multi user capabilities and hard disk support
Machine capability
CalcResult is currently available only on Commo¬ dore Business machines as follows 8032 and 8096 computers — including the SK series — on 8250 or 8050 disk units . It can also be used in multi-user situations and with Commodore 9060 and 9090 hara disks.
Commodore 64 — a single disk version for the 1541 disk unit.
Price
For 8000 series £1 49 (plus VAT) For Commodore 64 £94 (plus VAT)
Micro Marketing
PO Box 28 Henley-on-Thames Oxon. RG9 1 PF
Telephone 04912 2512
Dealer enquiries welcome